Endometriosis is a widespread and painful condition of women’s reproductive system, which can cause a severe impact on their sexual and social life. The primary reason for it is the abnormal growth of cells similar to those found in the uterus lining, but they grow outside the uterine cavity. These misplaced cells can spread into other pelvic organs and cause inflammatory reactions or damage to normal surrounding tissues. These misplaced cells can be found even on distant organs such as the diaphragm, lungs, brain, or other pelvic organs. If you have symptoms associated with endometriosis, you need to see a gynecologist experienced in treating endometriosis in Miami.
Causes
The exact cause of endometriosis is still unknown, but many theories attempt to explain the phenomenon. Recent research revealed that it could be a hereditary disease or immune system dysfunction. We know that in most cases, women with this condition have a family history of endometriosis and autoimmune disorders, which means the immune system cannot recognize its cells; therefore, it starts to treat them as foreign objects. Whatever the cause of endometriosis is, women with this condition are more likely to have children with genetic or congenital abnormalities.
Symptoms of Endometriosis
Endometriosis symptoms depend on the severity and location of adhesions. Most women with endometriosis experience symptoms in the form of pelvic pain and severe menstrual cramps with heavy blood flow, especially during periods and during or after intercourse. Some women with small lesions do not have any symptoms, and they are so painless they cannot even notice them.
Symptoms can last for a few days or even months. Even women who do not have any symptoms of endometriosis should make regular checkups with their gynecologists to prevent possible damage to normal pelvic organs and infertility.
Treatment
Over the years, there have been many different approaches in treating endometriosis, but the most frequently used are hysterectomy, laparoscopy, hormone treatment, or recently developed drug therapy. Hysterectomy is one of the treatments for endometriosis during which uterine tissue is removed, but sometimes it can cause hormonal imbalance leading to undesirable side effects. Laparoscopy is a procedure that allows doctors to enter into the abdominal cavity and identify the location of misplaced cells.
Hormone treatment is a good option for women who want to become pregnant after the surgery, but it also has some adverse effects. Recently developed drug therapy, including GnRH agonists and antagonists, was used more often because it does not cause hormonal imbalances and can be combined with other treatment procedures.
Complications
The most common complication of endometriosis is infertility. This disease increases the risk of infertility up to 40% and more. Even women with mild or no symptoms have a chance to suffer from impaired fertility. This makes early diagnosis a more critical part of the treatment process.
In addition, endometriosis can cause further complications such as pelvic inflammatory disease
or adhesion formation, leading to impaired fertility.
In summary, endometriosis can dramatically impact the quality of life. It causes pelvic pain with or without bleeding, reduces fertility, and leads to more severe complications. Treatments include laparoscopy, hormone therapy, or recently developed drug therapy. Early diagnosis is vital in preventing further damage to normal organs and increasing the chances of successful treatment.