Endometriosis

Causes

The cause of endometriosis is not known. It may be due to:

• Menstrual tissue that backs up through the fallopian tubes and spills into the belly
• Immune system that does not stop tissue from implanting on other organs
• A lymph system that carries cells from the uterus
• Surgery that accidentally relocates cells

Risk Factors

Endometriosis is more common in women of reproductive age. Other things that may raise the risk are:

• Menstruating before the age of 10 years old
• Having a cycle of less than 28 days
• Having a flow of more than 5 to 6 days
• Having an abnormal reproductive tract
• Not having children

Symptoms

Some people do not have problems. Others may have mild to severe problems, such as:

• Cramping and pelvic pain before and during menstrual bleeding
• Pain during sex and bleeding after
• Pain during bowel movements or urination
• Irregular menstrual cycles
• Pain in the lower back, belly, or pelvis

Diagnosis

You will be asked about your symptoms and past health. A pelvic exam will be done.

Images will be taken of the pelvis. This can be done with an ultrasound taken from the outside of the belly. It may also be done with a probe placed in vagina.

Laparoscopy is needed to confirm the diagnosis. A small cut is made in the belly. A scope is passed through the cut. It lets the doctor look for problem areas in the belly area. A sample of tissue may be taken as a biopsy . The sample will be carefully looked at and tested.

Treatment

Treatment depends on how severe the problems are. The goals are to ease pain and slow tissue growth. Options may be:

Medicine

Medicine may be given to ease pain and swelling. It may be over-the-counter pain medicine, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Hormone medicine like birth control pills may also help. Birth control pills may be used to ease pain and shrink the size and number of growths. These problems often return when the pills are stopped. They will need to be stopped if a pregnancy is desired.

An intrauterine device (IUD) may be used in those who are not helped by birth control pills.

Surgery

Some growths can get in the way of future pregnancy. Surgery may be done to remove those growths.

Surgery may also be done for severe symptoms that do not respond well to other treatment. The goal will be too remove as much problem tissue as possible. The tissue can grow back later. Hormone therapy may be used after surgery to lower the chance of growths coming back.

Prevention

There are no steps to prevent endometriosis.