Endometriosis: Underdiagnosed Disease

Therefore, the scope of information provided is limited to essential information directly related the purpose providing women facts about endometriosis. The facts are brief enough to what the health consumer can reasonably learn in the time allowed. The headings are clearly stated which makes the information provided on this pamphlet easy to follow and promotes learning and interaction among women. This information can aid women to understand about their diagnosis and empower them to make an informed decision. 1,2,2

In endometriosis, this endometrial tissue begins to grow in places outside the uterus. Typical sites include the fallopian tubes, intestines, vagina, and on scars that my form after abdominal surgery. The misplaced endometrial tissue thickens, engorges with blood and bleeds during the menstrual cycle, just like the normal tissue in the uterus. However, there is no place for the abnormally placed endometrial tissue outside the uterus to shed blood. This results in the formation of cysts, scars, and adhesions. This process can also block or affect the fallopian tubes so that conception and pregnancy are less likely to happen. It can also result in complete infertility. Other symptoms of endometriosis are often associated with heavy or painful periods. Risk factors for the development of endometriosis include having a mother or sister with the disorder, never having children, starting the menstrual period at an early age, and frequent or long periods. According to Dr. Camron Nezhat, Laparoscopic Surgeon at Stanford University, 5.5% of women in the U.S are infected with Endometriosis and 30% to 40% are infertile as a result of it.

Endometriosis is an abnormal growth of endometrial cells it is most commonly found in the organs of the pelvis. Endometrial tissue is shed during each month during menstruation. Rarely endometriosis can occur outside of the pelvis. The surrounding tissue can become irritated and eventually be scrapping scar tissue and adhesions. Bands of fibrous tissue can cause tissues and organs stick to each other. Though the exact cause has never been identified, endometriosis is more common in women who experience infertility than in fertile women. There might be a couple of explanations such to why endometriosis occurs such as retrograde menstruation. Retrograde menstruation is blood that contains endometrial cells that flow back through the fallopian tubes and also into the pelvic cavity

Magnetic Resonance -Guided High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (MRgHIFU) as Alternate Treatment to Uterine Fibroids in African American Women.

If a patient complains with the signs and symptoms previously described along with abdominal pain, amenorrhea, or difficulty to conceive, a physician will take these necessary measures to diagnosing PCOS. During a physical examination, lab work will be ordered such as a fasting lipid profile, a glucose test, hormone levels, and an insulin test. The results will give detail information on hormone levels such as prolactin and thyroid levels, FSH to LH ratio and androgen levels. A transvaginal ultrasound will also be recommended and administered to indicate a pearl-necklace pattern of cysts

Alternatively, endometriosis may affect fertility through the production of hormones and other substances that have a negative effect on ovulation, fertilization of the egg, and/or implantation of the embryo (Stoppler, 2011). The severity of your pain isn't necessarily a reliable indicator of the extent of the condition. Some women with mild endometriosis have extensive pain, while others with advanced endometriosis may have little pain or even no pain at all (Staff, 2010). Endometriosis is sometimes mistaken for other conditions that can cause pelvic pain, such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) or ovarian cysts. It may be confused with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a condition that causes bouts of diarrhea, constipation and abdominal cramping. IBS can accompany endometriosis, which can complicate the diagnosis (Staff, 2010).

However, after a couple of weeks, Lupron injections for endometriosis, temporally shuts off the pituitary gland which prevents the ovary from releasing estrogen and progesterone; it puts a woman in a state of menopause (though temporal state), so the symptoms of endo are improved and the disorder spreads at a slower rate.

As it costs less than MRI, ultrasound may be the preferred noninvasive method of confirming endometriomas, although like MRI, it has a low sensitivity for other peritoneal lesions. Because we made a serious attempt to exclude women with other causes of pelvic pain, we do not know the utility of MRI in finding other pathology. A negative MRI study was most likely to occur in someone with minimal endometriosis, yet a negative study did not exclude endometriosis. Thus, given the cost of MRI, when surgical diagnosis and treatment is indicated, magnetic resonance is not

Dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation) is the most common complaint of endometriosis, this may come with or

Aside from being told they are too young to have the disease, many teenagers who think they may have endometriosis are said to be crazy, as Ballweg says in her book, “A disease that will be chalked up to psychosomatic problems by some because they lack awareness about endo… one can understand why endo is very challenging for those with it, particularly teenagers” (Ballweg 241). In an experiment, 4,000 women were interviewed, and 61% were originally told nothing was wrong, where 69% of these were gynecologists themselves. More funding and research will lead to more awareness, and problems such as these can be avoided in the future, if the necessary things are done for improvement today.

Well the most effective way to treat endometriosis is through surgery. Surgery is used to remove then endometrium tissue that has grown outside of the uterus lining where it is supposed to be. Surgery is used to burn the endometrium lesion that is outside of the uterus to the endometriosis to go away and most proven way to improve pain symptoms with endometriosis. But some people are not comfortable doing the surgery so the use medication to control the pain and some symptoms. Some medication that the doctors may prescribe is ibuprofen or non- steroidal medication, or they may prescribe women medication that effects a women’s hormones to help with the pain.The following is how women live with endometriosis on a daily basis. When not being treated and living with endometriosis can be very painful and could cause you to be tired more often and not want to get out of the house it can put you in a bad mood (grouchy, cranky, upset, sad, angry, etc.). When being treated with endometriosis by medication you may not feel as much pain you will be in happier moods (excited, anxious, happy, etc.) and want to go do things and be active other than saying in bed all day, when being treated for endometriosis you might have to take medications once or twice a day to control the symptoms. When being treated surgically for endometriosis you will probably have to take a week for yourself and recover from surgery, after

Infertility and ovarian cancer are very serious problems that can be developed in women with endometriosis. Infertility is the main problem associated with endometriosis. It can be a major setback for seemingly healthy couples that want to start a family. “Endometriosis is associated with infertility in 30-40% of sufferers (World Endometriosis, 2011)” “The presence of endometriosis may involve masses of tissue or scarring (adhesions) within the pelvis that may distort normal anatomical structures, such as Fallopian tubes, which transport the eggs from the ovaries. Alternatively, endometriosis may affect fertility through the production of hormones and other substances that have a negative effect on ovulation, fertilization of the egg, and/or implantation of the embryo” (MedicineNet, 2013). Although

There are diagnostic tests that can be done to test or look for signs of ureteral endometriosis. These diagnostic tests include laparoscopy, CT scan, MRI, ureteroscopy with ultrasonography. Although these tests are helpful, there is no one particular test that is used solely to find ureteral endometriosis, however laparoscopy tests should be performed first. “Most commonly ureteral endometriosis is found accidentally in patients undergoing laparoscopy for infertility or endometriosis”. (Palla, 2017) During these tests, gynecologists, urologists, and surgeons look for lesions, and obstructions along the uterine wall, misplaced uterine tissue and glands, and abnormalities of the surrounding organs and structures, the fallopian tubes, urethra, bladder, kidneys, etc. After diagnosing a patient with ureteral endometriosis, a medical professional will then assess the symptoms, size and damage to the uterus before recommending

I was diagnosed with Endometriosis in 1996; I was only 12 years of age. Doctors still believe that endometriosis is rare in preteens, teenagers and young women; I can prove them wrong in many ways. Therefore, they do not consider a diagnosis of endometriosis when preteens, teenagers and young women complain of symptoms like abdominal pain, pelvic pain and menstrual periods due to them being so young. On August 7, 1999, I went to my

Uterine fibroids affect 3 out of 4 women (Mayo Clinic, 2014). They are non-cancerous but they can cause pain and discomfort. This paper will discuss who can be effected by Uterine fibroids and its effects on the female reproductive system. This paper will show the three types of fibroids that develop in or near the uterus. It will discuss the symptoms and when a diagnosis is needed. This paper will also look into the various forms of treatment including medications and surgery.