Endometriosis

Signs and Symptoms

Endometriosis is a condition in which tissue from the membrane normally lining the uterus — the endometrium — grows outside the uterus, typically on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, intestines or other areas in the pelvis. This tissue acts just like the endometrium in accumulating blood in the monthly menses period, but it has no place to shed the blood at the end of the cycle. The accumulation of tissue and blood can cause inflammation and scarring, which can lead to other conditions, particularly pelvic pain and infertility. Between 25 and 50 percent of infertile women are estimated to have endometriosis. Blood trapped in the ovaries also can develop into benign cysts called endometrioma. Endometriosis affects more than one million women in the United States and at this time, the exact cause of condition is unknown.

Symptoms of endometriosis typically worsen over time. The severity of symptoms may vary and some women with the condition may not experience any symptoms at all. Symptoms may stop after menopause or during pregnancy, though will begin in women after they have a baby and begin menstruating again.

Common symptoms may include:

• Pelvic pain and cramping before and during periods
• Lower back and stomach pain during periods
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• Excessive bleeding during periods
• Pelvic pain during intercourse
• Fatigue
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Nausea
• Infertility

It is important to note that these symptoms can occur with other conditions. If you're experiencing any of these symptoms, see your doctor to determine the cause.

Diagnosis

In making a diagnosis of endometriosis, your doctor will first start by asking about your symptoms and conducting a physical exam, including a pelvic exam to check for any abnormalities, though these are typically hard to detect without having other, more advanced tests.

Pelvic exam is done to check a woman's vagina, uterus, bladder and rectum. The doctor feels these organs for any lumps or changes in their shape or size. To see the upper part of the vagina and the cervix, the doctor inserts an instrument called a speculum into the vagina.

Transvaginal ultrasound involves a doctor inserting an instrument into the vagina. The instrument aims high-frequency sound waves at the uterus. The pattern of the echoes they produce creates a picture.

Laparoscopy is a surgical procedure that uses tiny incisions and a scope, called a laparoscope, to view the pelvic and other abdominal organs to look for signs of endometrial tissue outside the uterus.

CA125 Test is a blood test that checks levels of a blood protein known as CA125, which is a tumor marker for certain gynecological cancers, but is also used to detect a specific protein found in the blood of women who have endometriosis. However, it is important to note that CA125 levels also may be increased during pregnancy, menstruation and in the presence of other non-cancerous gynecologic diseases or cancers.

Treatment

There are several different treatment options available for endometriosis. Your doctor will discuss each treatment in detail and help you determine those that best meet your needs. Treatment may depend on the severity of your condition, your age and whether or not you are planning on having children, and whether you have any other associated conditions.

Medications

Hormonal therapies can help slow the growth of endometriosis. These include birth control pills, progestins, Danazol and the newer drugs known as aromatase inhibitors, which act by interrupting local estrogen formation within the endometrial growths.

Over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen can be taken to manage pelvic pain and menstrual cramping.

Surgery

Surgery may be recommended for some women who are trying to get pregnant and for those who suffer from severe pelvic pain. Conservative surgery removes endometrial growths, scar tissue and adhesions without removing reproductive organs. This may be performed laparoscopically, in which a slender scope, called a laparoscope, is inserted through a tiny incision near the navel. The laparoscope has a laser or small surgical instruments which remove growths.

In the most severe cases, a hysterectomy — with or without the removal of the ovaries — is performed. However, it is important to note that this is typically a last resort, particularly for women who are still in their reproductive years. Also, while surgery can be very effective in treating endometriosis, the recurrence rate of the condition after surgery is an estimated 40 percent.

Women who are experiencing infertility due to endometriosis may also benefit from treatment from an infertility specialist.