Endometriosis

What is endometriosis?

Endometriosis is a painful condition in which uterine tissue grows outside of your uterus. If you have endometriosis, this inner uterine lining can grow just about anywhere in your abdomen, including around your:

• Fallopian tubes
• Cervix
• Vagina
• Bowels
• Bladder
• Rectum

Endometriosis is a painful condition because the tissue that grows outside of your uterus continues to function as normal uterine lining. That means the tissue thickens, breaks down, and bleeds each month with your menstrual cycle. There’s no way for this blood and tissue to leave your body, so it becomes trapped, often making it very painful.

If endometriosis involves your ovaries, cysts can form that irritate the surrounding tissue, and if left untreated, it causes scar tissue to form around your organs.

What are common symptoms of endometriosis?

Common endometriosis symptoms often include one or more of the following conditions:

• Painful intercourse
• Infertility
• Painful periods and severe menstrual cramps
• Bleeding between periods
• Intense pelvic pain
• Bloating
• Nausea
• Painful bowel movements or urination during periods
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Fatigue
• Excessive bleeding (menorrhagia) during periods

Endometriosis is sometimes hard to diagnose because the severity of your symptoms doesn’t always match the extent of the disease. In other words, you may have intense pain, but only mild endometriosis conditions. Or, you could have mild pain with a more advanced stage of endometriosis.

The doctors at OB/GYN Specialists are experts at accurately diagnosing and treating endometriosis, so you can get relief from pain and other symptoms or increase your chances of becoming pregnant if you desire.

What treatments are available for endometriosis?

Although there is no cure for endometriosis, effective treatments are available to relieve pain and symptoms. If you’re trying to get pregnant, your doctor may prescribe medicine to stop your body from making hormones responsible for ovulation, your menstrual cycle, and the growth of endometrial tissue. This treatment approach causes temporary menopause, but when you stop treatment, it may increase your chance of getting pregnant.

If you aren’t trying to get pregnant, other hormonal medications can extend your menstrual cycle so you only have a few periods each year. This controls abnormal bleeding and helps reduce or eliminate pain.

If you have severe symptoms and fertility problems, your doctor may recommend surgery to alleviate pain and other complications. The team takes the most natural, minimally invasive approach, working with you to help you make an informed decision as to which course of treatment is best for your individual needs and beliefs.

To schedule an appointment for endometriosis symptoms, call the office, or book online to get the expert care you need in a caring environment.