I’m going to try to explain what endometriosis is…or Endo what?? as I’m sometimes asked.
What is Endometriosis?
Endometriosis is a gynaecological condition. In simple terms, endometriosis is where tissue similar to womb lining (endometrium) is found outside of the uterus. It behaves in the same way as womb lining does, so it thickens up and bleeds however it can have a completely different hormone cycle to someone’s normal cycle. It can cause adhesions which are made up of scar tissue and endometriomas which are a type of cyst. There is currently no cure for endometriosis although there are treatment options.
How many women/people who menstruate does Endometriosis effect?
Endometriosis effects 1 in 10 women/people who menstruate.
What are the symptoms of endometriosis?
The symptoms include painful periods, pain during sex, pain during a bowel movement or during urination, excessive bleeding, irregular bleeding, infertility, fatigue, diarrhoea, constipation, bloating, nausea. Fun times, eh?
How long does diagnosis take?
Diagnosis takes approximately 7.5 years which in my opinion is unacceptable. Part of this delay can be attributed to a lack of awareness.
How is it diagnosed?
Endometriosis is typically diagnosed via laparoscopy. A laparoscopy is where small incisions are made into the abdomen, the abdomen is inflated with gas, and a surgeon uses a small camera to look at your insides and then remove any endometriosis present. Occasionally, endometriosis may show up on ultrasound but a laparoscopy is the only way to get a definitive diagnosis.
There are two methods used to remove endometriosis, excision and ablation. Of the two, you are better seeing consultant who excises endometriosis as with ablation, they just laser it away and can miss cells.
What treatment options are there?
Typically, someone with endometriosis will be put onto the contraceptive pill back to back for 3 months at a time to control the endometriosis.
The type of pill varies depending on how the person reacts to the treatment. It can either be the combined pill or the progestogen only pill (POP).
The mirena coil is also recognised as a good method of controlling endometriosis.
There are also hormone supressing injections (zoladex and prostap) which work on the pituitary gland (the hormone centre of your brain and it’s the size of a pea so it may be small but it is mighty!) to place a woman’s body into a temporary, medically induced menopause. These injections are given every 4 weeks or every 12 weeks. The injections aren’t without their own complications and someone who has these injections may be given HRT tablets to help lessen the menopause symptoms.
There is no one size fits all treatment. What works for one person may make someone else much worse.
I hope this blog post has helped you learn more about endometriosis.
Take care,
Lis x
Disclaimer – This post is for general informational and educational purposes only. Please see my Disclaimers page for further information.
https://www.themoderngirlsguidetoendo.co.uk/disclaimers/
