Pregnancy and Endometriosis - Background
Endometriosis is a female health condition that occurs when the uterine tissues either grow or attach themselves to the organs outside of the uterus. During menstruation, the lining of the uterus will shed as it normally does, but the portion that grows outside of the uterus stays. During ovulation and menstruation, the uterual tissue growing externally is aggravated continuously. It could tear, break and bleed. This often leads to the formation of kelloidal tissue and causes discomfort.
More than seven million females in the United States have endometriosis, says the Endometriosis Research Center. It is one of the primary causes of chronic pelvic pain, infertility, and gynecologic surgeries.
What Leads To Endometriosis?
Currently, the reason for the occurrence of endometriosis is still not known, but experts propose several possible causes. Latest studies conducted on the condition suggest that it may be genetically-influenced.
Symptoms
Usual signs and symptoms of endometriosis include irregular or labored breathing, pain during menstruation, chronic pelvic pain, lower back pain and fatigue. Women can also expect to feel some discomfort while passing stools, some gastro intestinal problems like constipation and diarrhea, and even pain while ovulation or having sexual intercourse. In worse cases, endometriosis may result in infertility.
Diagnosis
The only sure method to diagnose endometriosis is through surgery. Other diagnostic exams like MRIs, ultrasound, or CAT scans are usually inconclusive. A doctor will need to look into the patient’s symptoms, as well as her medical history. To diagnose the condition, the doctor may conduct a laparoscopic procedure or a laparotomy.
Endometriosis has yet to find a cure, but doctors suggest certain methods of treatment to help with its management.
Treatment
Methods to manage endometriosis include:
Pain Medication
Medications such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen and aspirin, which are available over-the-counter, are used to decrease discomfort and pain. It this does not work, one may need to take prescription drugs.
Hormonal Drug Therapy
Hormone drugs can be used to block a patient’s ovulation. The objective would be to prevent further provocation of the lesions and to shield onself against the onset of related symptoms. These types of medications include GnRH agonists, oral contraceptives, and progesterone drugs. Hormone replacament therapy is the usual recommendation for patients who have been through surgery.
Surgery
Doctors usually determine the diagnosis following conservative surgeries like a laparotomy or laparoscopy and often pass through these procedures to extract abnormal growths. If this succeeds, it could help eliminate the pain and even raise the woman’s chances of conceiving.
If traditional surgical procedures prove ineffective, doctors have the option to perform a hysterectomy or other more invasive procedures.
Alternative/Natural Therapy
Many patients prefer natural or alternative therapies to medications and surgery. Some of the common and more popular natural treatments are acupuncture, Chinese medicaine, and nutrition-based programs like natural herbs for fertility. There exists a considerable amount of studies that support the effectiveness of these natural treatments to do no harm and to awaken the body’s inherent defense mechanisms and healing activity.