Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a common condition, which is often linked to infertility, but often women wait a long time before realising they have a problem.
Endometriosis is where tissue, similar to the lining in the womb, finds itself elsewhere in the body. It is usually found in the pelvis around the ovaries and fallopian tubes.
Symptoms vary, and this often makes this condition harder to diagnose. Endometriosis can cause issues such as pelvic pain, painful and often irregular heavy periods, pain during or after sex and fertility problems. You may also experience pain in the bowels, bladder, lower back or the tops of the legs and long-term fatigue.
In some cases, women with Endometriosis do not experience any symptoms.
Endometriosis may cause pain that appears in irregular patterns; the pain will often get worse before and during your period. Some women experience pain all the time, yet for other women, the pain may come and go.
It is a very common condition and may affect around 1 in 10 women, although you are more likely to get endometriosis if your mother or sister has it.
Endometriosis is where tissue, similar to the lining in the womb, finds itself elsewhere in the body. It is usually found in the pelvis around the ovaries and fallopian tubes.
Symptoms vary, and this often makes this condition harder to diagnose. Endometriosis can cause issues such as pelvic pain, painful and often irregular heavy periods, pain during or after sex and fertility problems. You may also experience pain in the bowels, bladder, lower back or the tops of the legs and long-term fatigue.
In some cases, women with Endometriosis do not experience any symptoms.
Endometriosis may cause pain that appears in irregular patterns; the pain will often get worse before and during your period. Some women experience pain all the time, yet for other women, the pain may come and go.
It is a very common condition and may affect around 1 in 10 women, although you are more likely to get endometriosis if your mother or sister has it.
Treatments
It is important to talk about the possible treatments in detail; every woman is different, and circumstances and severity of the condition will be a factor in creating a treatment plan that is right for you.
We have several treatment options for endometriosis.
Hormone treatments
This type of treatment reduces or stops ovulation, therefore allowing the endometriosis to shrink from the lack of hormonal stimulation. Some hormone treatments act as a contraceptive pill and will prevent pregnancy.
– The combined oral contraceptive (COC). This comes as a pill or as a patch and is used continuously without the normal pill break. This pill typically stops ovulation and temporarily either stops your period or makes it lighter and less painful.
– An Intrauterine System (IUS/Mirena). This helps to reduce the pain and helps to make periods lighter. Often, women who use IUS don’t get a period at all.
Other hormonal treatments that help with endometriosis are not contraceptives; these include
– Progestogens, which come in the form of tablets.
– Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists (GnRHa). You receive this treatment via injections, implants or as a nasal spray. This treatment option is very effective, yet it can cause menopausal symptoms, such as hot flushes and is commonly known to reduce bone density.
Surgery
Having surgery can treat or remove areas of endometriosis. The type of surgery you receive will depend on where the endometriosis is and how extensive it is. This decision may occur when you first get the diagnosis, or you can decide later.
Possible operations include
Laparoscopic Surgery- This is where we remove or destroy patches of endometriosis.
Laparotomy- This option is for more severe cases. This type of surgery is a major operation that requires a cut in the abdomen so that we can remove the endometriosis from the areas it is affecting and provide some symptom relief.
Often, the surgery involves removing large endometriotic cysts from the ovaries. This may also include the removal of the ovaries with or without performing a hysterectomy. You will no longer be able to have children after a hysterectomy, yet longer pain relief is more likely to happen with the removal of the ovaries.
Fertility
Getting pregnant can be a problem for some women with endometriosis. Hormonal treatments are not advisable when you are trying to conceive, so considering one of the surgical treatments may be better.
Alternative options
There are also lifestyle changes that can help manage endometriosis symptoms, like regular exercise. This will help improve your overall well-being and often helps to improve some of the symptoms you may experience. Cutting out certain foods like dairy and wheat products from your diet. Some women choose to use psychological therapies and counselling to help manage their symptoms.
Our endometriosis care package is designed to help you understand and manage your symptoms.
