Endometriosis Awareness - Endo

Endometriosis is a painful, chronic immune and endocrine disease that affects over five million girls and women in the United States. Unfortunately, endometriosis is often misdiagnosed and patients undergo years of pain and being told "It's all in your head." before an accurate diagnosis of endometriosis is obtained.

Although women with endometriosis have several traditional and alternative treatment options available to them, there is no cure for endometriosis. Sadly, most treatments for endometriosis provide little, or only short-term, relief. Treatments for endometriosis typically involve expensive hormonal drugs that often cause negative side effects, or invasive surgical procedures.

Determining whether endometriosis is present is difficult. To help girls and women who suspect they may have endometriosis, the Endometriosis Association has a helpful free brochures available on their website. They also provide support, newsletters, and information about the latest research being conducted on endometriosis.

The Endometriosis Research Center offers extensive information, research, support groups, and other relevant material for girls and women (and even men) who suffer from endometriosis.

"I'm looking for some advice before I start the Danocrine my doctor prescribed me. I haven't had a laparoscopy, but I have had abdominal pain for 1.5 years. In January my GYN found a small cyst on the left ovary by ultrasound, and MRI indicated it had characteristics of endometriosis. My GYN prescribed natural progesterone, in case it was a corpus luteum cyst. I went for my control ultrasound today, and now she believes I have endometriosis (but without a lap, no proof). She did not recommend an immediate laparoscopy (my symptoms are not severe), but rather Danocrine, 200 mg taken on days 15-24.

In principle I am opposed to hormonal treatment. But she told me most women have no side effects from this dose when it is not taken every day. In the meantime I've found plenty of horror stories on the net. Does anyone have an opinion or experience with this? I, of course would like to avoid the surgery if possible, but worry about the side effects I've read about, including possible irreversible ones." CLYNE3

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What is endometriosis? What ar

Endometrial tissue lines the uterus. Each month, in tune with the menstrual cycle, the endometrial tissue thickens and is shed during menstruation.

If you have endometriosis, it means that the same kind of tissue that lines your uterus is also growing in other parts of your body, usually in the abdomen. This can cause scar tissue to build up around your organs.

Endometriosis may cause severe pain and abnormal bleeding, usually around the time of your period. Pain during intercourse is another common symptom. However, it is possible to have endometriosis and not have any symptoms. Endometriosis is a leading cause of infertility(inability to get pregnant). Often it is not diagnosed until a woman has trouble getting pregnant.

Endometriosis will lessen after menopause and during pregnancy, since the growth of endometrial tissue depends on estrogen. If you have endometriosis and take estrogen-replacement therapy after menopause, the tissue may grow back.

The only way to be sure that you have endometriosis is through a surgical procedure, laparoscopy. Endometriosis can be a chronic condition and may return even after treatment with medicine or surgery.

There are several options for treating endometriosis. The best treatment for you may depend on whether you want to relieve pain, increase your chances of getting pregnant, or both. It is important to work with your doctor to weigh the benefits and risks of each treatment. Medicine, including hormones. There are two types of hormone therapy: those that will make your body think it is pregnant and those that will make your body think it is in menopause. Both are meant to stop the body from producing the messages that cause the endometrial tissue to grow. Birth control pills may be used for a few months to try to shrink the adhesions in women who want to become pregnant. Other hormones-GnRH and danazol-also may help relieve the pain of endometriosis. Doctors sometimes prescribe pain relievers, such as ibuprofen (for example, Advil and Motrin) or, for severe pain, codeine. Other nonsurgical options include watchful waiting and changes in diet and exercise. Laser laparoscopy, in which a cut is made in the abdomen and adhesions are removed, either by laser beams or electric cauterization. Hysterectomy, which may not cure endometriosis. Unless the ovaries are removed also, they will continue to produce estrogen. This may encourage endometrial tissue to grow in other areas of the body. Bowel resection, which means taking out a section of the bowel, if endometriosis is affecting the bowel. Cutting certain nerves, called the sacral nerves, in the lower back to relieve pain.

Reprinted from the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR)

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Symptoms of Endometriosis

endo Visit our Women's Health Treatments Guide Index for more information about endometriosis and other women's health conditions.

Always discuss any symptoms you may be experiencing with your health care provider for an accurate diagnosis and treatment.

Go to the Women's Health Symptoms Guide Index for more common women's health symptoms.

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