Endometriosis - Definition, Causes, Signs and Symptoms of endometriosis
Endometriosis
What is Endometriosis?
Endometriosis has always been known to be the career women’s disease. Apparently it is more common among working women who does not have children than those housewives who have children. However as of late, this notion has seemingly faded and the real cause of endometriosis has remained a mystery.
Endometriosis is a chronic disorder that may be painful. Endometriosis is a noncancerous disorder in which pieces of endometrial tissue—normally occurring only in the lining of the uterus (endometrium)—grow outside the uterus.
There is no exact estimate on how many women have endometriosis because it can usually be diagnosed only by directly viewing the endometrial tissue (which requires a surgical procedure). Endometriosis probably affects about 10 to 15% of menstruating women aged 25 to 44. It can also affect teenagers.
Causes of Endometriosis
The real cause of endometriosis is still unknown, but there are few theories for its cause.
- Abnormal functioning of the immune system. . It is more likely to occur in women who have their first baby after age 30, who have never had a baby, who are of Asian descent, or who have structural abnormalities of the uterus.
- Retrograde (or reflux) menstruation. Small pieces of the uterine lining that are shed during menstruation may flow backward through the fallopian tubes toward the ovaries into the abdominal cavity, rather than flow through the vagina
- Genetic or heredity factors. Endometriosis sometimes runs in families
Signs and Symptoms of Endometriosis
Some women with severe endometriosis have no symptoms. Others, even some with minimal disease, have incapacitating pain. In many women, endometriosis does not cause pain until it has been present for several years. For such women, sexual intercourse tends to be painful before or during menstruation
One-third of women with endometriosis have no symptoms. The most common symptoms include the following.
- Pelvic and abdominal pain especially during menstruation. The main symptom associated with endometriosis is pain in the lower abdomen and pelvic area. The pain usually varies during the menstrual cycle
- Heavy or irregular menstruation. Menstrual irregularities, such as heavy menstrual bleeding and spotting before menstrual periods, may occur.
- Infertility or miscarriage. Severe endometriosis may block the egg's passage from the ovary into the uterus, causing infertility. Mild endometriosis may also cause infertility, but how it does so is less clear. Endometriosis affects as many as 25 to 50% of infertile women.
- Pain during bowel movements, rectal bleeding during menstruation or pain above the pubic bone while urinating.
Women's Health / Gynecology News From Medical News Today
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