How Does Endometriosis Present?

Endometriosis is a condition in which the uterine tissue occurs in areas outside the uterine cavity. These ectopic uterine tissues change during menstruation, which can cause pain in the sites where they occur. Most times, the ectopic endometrial tissues occur in the pelvic organs like the ovary and the oviducts. Still, sometimes the endometrial tissues may be found in distant organs like the brain and lungs. Endometrial tissues can also occur in the peritoneal cavity of the abdomen.

Endometriosis is a common cause of chronic pelvic pain that can lower the quality of life in affected women, and therefore, require treatment. Different women affected with endometriosis in Las Vegas have various symptoms, and thus treatment of each person is individualized. A doctor diagnoses endometriosis through a medical history, physical examination, and laparoscopy to view the ectopic endometrial tissues.

What Causes Endometriosis?

The exact cause of endometriosis is unknown, but some theories explain possible ways by which the endometrial tissues move to a different location. The first theory proposes that a woman might experience reverse menstruation where menstrual blood flows back into the fallopian tubes instead of flowing out through the cervix. This menstrual blood then causes changes in the fallopian tubes or ovaries, making them have ectopic endometrial tissues.

Endometrial tissue could be put in the abdomen accidental during abdominal surgery like c-section. These embedded endometrial tissues then start undergoing menstrual changes. Another proposed theory is that endometrial tissue may go to distant organs through the bloodstream or the lymphatic system. This transfer explains how the endometrial tissues may reach the brain or the lungs.

During the embryonic development of the body systems, the peritoneal layer of the abdomen and the endometrial layer of the uterus may have the same origin and therefore explain peritoneal endometriosis. Some factors are thought to trigger endometriosis like a failure of the body's immunity system to fight the ectopic endometrial tissues.

Other factors include having a long reproductive period, infertility, delayed age of conception, and having heavy periods. The risk of endometriosis increases with having a family history, high estrogen levels, and structural abnormalities of the pelvic organs.

What Are the Symptoms of Endometriosis?

The most common symptom of endometriosis is pelvic pain. Endometriosis also presents with lower back pain or lower abdominal pain during menses. You may experience pain before or after periods. When endometrial tissues are in the rectum or bladder, you may have pain when passing urine or stool. The severity of the pain varies in different women.

Conclusion

Endometriosis is also present with abnormal periods which may be heavy, or you may have bleeding in between your periods.you may also experience nausea and vomiting during periods. If you have endometriosis, you may have pain during sex. Endometriosis in distant organs like lungs may cause pleural effusions. Endometriosis in the brain may cause seizures, which are called catamenial seizures.

Endometriosis lowers the quality of life of affected women and may cause depression due to chronic pain. The women may also have reduced performance at their workplaces. Endometriosis also causes adhesions in the pelvic organs, which may increase the risk of infertility.

Endometriosis is a condition in which the inner uterine layer goes to areas outside the uterus like ovaries, abdomen, and lungs. The exact cause of endometriosis is unknown, but having a family history of endometriosis increases your risk. The most common symptoms of endometriosis are pelvic pain and heavy, painful periods.