Endometriosis can affect women of childbearing age and negatively impacts the quality of life. Four in every ten women face this condition, from mild to severe. There are different stages, but even the minimal stage can worsen the pain and have an impact on life.
What is Endometriosis?
Do you know about the endometrial thickness? The uterus lining sheds in the period, and the thickness changes during the different phases. But does it have any connection with the endometrial thickness? Probably yes!
Endometriosis is where tissues similar to the endometrial lining start to grow outside the uterus. It affects the organs in the pelvic areas and rarely spreads beyond that. The exact endometriosis is unknown, but it generally happens due to hormonal imbalance and when there is excess estrogen production.
How does this happen? The endometrial sheds away every month through the menstrual cycle. But this lining gets trapped and develops over different reproductive parts in many cases. Which parts are mostly affected by this?
- Ovaries
- Fallopian Tubes
- Bagina
- Outside and inside of the uterus
- Bladder and ureter
- Rectum
What are the Endometriosis Signs and Symptoms?
The most common endometriosis sign is pelvic pain. No matter, you are into which stage of endometriosis, the onset of severe pain starts from stage 1. The acute pain can interfere with day-to-day activity.
But still, the signs differ from person to person. However, there are many other signs that you should look for.
- Painful period – Generally, the PMS starts one week or ten days before periods, but when you have endometriosis, the pain remains longer.
- Pain while urinating – You may experience pain while urinating during a period. However, this condition hampers everyday living, and you may also experience it on other days.
- Excessive Bleeding – Unusual excess bleeding at the time of periods is another significant sign that you should never ignore.
- Infertility – Yes, it becomes harder for women to conceive. Endometriosis worsens with time, so your doctor will suggest you plan for the baby earliest to deal with the excess complications.
- Painful sex – It leads to low libido and pain during intercourse.
- Constipation or diarrhea – In later stages, one may experience constipation or diarrhea, sometimes leading to irritable bowel movement.
While these are the very general endometriosis signs, you can have other symptoms like nausea, depression, anxiety, and fatigue as well.
What are the endometriosis causes?
The exact cause of endometriosis is unknown, but several factors lead to the problem.
Retrograde Menstruation
The menstrual blood flows out of the body via the vagina, but do you know that sometimes this blood flows in opposite directions toward the fallopian tubes and ovaries. So, what happens in such a situation? This blood that moves inward gets trapped and sticks to the pelvic area.
As it does not get the way out, it starts to grow in the area it sticks and causes problems.
Surgical Scar
It is not essential that you may have any problem, but even a C-section or any other minor surgery can lead to this problem. So, even the tiny tissue may remain in the pelvic region, which attaches to the surgical incisions and leads to the problem.
Genetics
If your mother, grandmother, or any other in blood relation has the endometriosis problem, then you may likely develop this condition. Genes have a role to play in it.
Embryonic Cell Transformation
This condition also develops due to hormonal issues. The estrogen is responsible for cell transformation, and it transfers the embryonic cell, leading to the endometrial implant during puberty.
Endometriosis Risk Factors
Check out who is more prone to endometriosis.
- Age Group – Women under 30s and 40s are more prone to develop this condition. The endometriosis starts to settle after the menopause.
- Family History – If anyone in the family has this condition, likely, you may also develop this condition.
- Pregnancy History – Women who have never been pregnant are more prone to develop this condition.
- Menstrual cycle history – If you have a shorter cycle or a more prolonged and heavier flow, you are likely to get this condition. Also, females who get their periods before age 11 may develop this condition later in life.
What are the solutions to endometriosis?
Pain Medicine
If you have acute pain, your gynecologist may prescribe some pain relievers to help you in daily life. But if the pain is consistent and unbearable, you may have to look for alternative options like surgery.
Some herbs and ayurvedic medicine can also be helpful in the long run.
Diet
As you know, diet plays a role in different diseases; one such disease is endometriosis. Anyway, you have to avoid the food options that trigger estrogen production.
Foods high in fat and red meat are the main culprits and lead to excess estrogen, which is the primary cause of endometrial tissue growth. Look for options like fruits, fresh vegetables, and foods rich in omega-3.
Hormonal Therapy
Your gynecologist may prescribe you progesterone or birth control pills that help lower the estrogen level. These pills stop ovulation and lead to the temporary stop of estrogen production so that the condition does not worsen with time.
These medicines are known to reverse the inflammation and scarring of other tissues.
Exercise Regularly
Exercise helps to promote good health and keep many diseases under control. For hormonal imbalances and to control weight, it is essential to exercise for thirty minutes daily.
Exercise helps in better blood circulation and better blood flow in the pelvic area. When more blood is pumped into the different body parts, you may deal with the problem with better efficacy.
Conclusion
Endometriosis conditions may not be life-threatening. But it is essential for you not to ignore any unusual symptoms. If left untreated, it may lead to other problems like endometrial cancer, and one of the biggest problems is infertility.
Women of childbearing age may be unable to conceive without proper treatment and guidance from the doctor.
