Endometriosis - A Common Gynecological Disorder With No Cure

Endometriosis is a long and often terrifing word. An estimated 89 million women in the world suffer with this little understood disorder. Endometriosis is the most common gynecological disorder. It occurs when the tissue lining of the uterus grows outside of the uterus. This tissue that would normally grow and shed in the uterus, grows and shed outside of it. With no where to go, the tissue develops into scar tissue. Affected areas include the ovaries, fallopian tubes, ligaments that support the uterus, as well as other surrounding organs.

Endometriosis for some is extremely painful while others have no pain. Scar tissue that has been built up from the misplaced tissue is thought to be the cause of chronic pelvic pain. Symptoms of endometriosis include painful periods, irregular menstruation, painful intercourse, continued pain even after menstruation, infertility, and painful bowel movements. The amount of pain does not correspond with the level of endometriosis. While some women complain of severe pain, they may have little appearance of the disease during laparoscopy and yet others with no significant pain may have an extraordinary amount of visible disease.

If you suspect you have endometriosis it is vital to speak with your doctor. There are treatment options available to slow down the progression of the disease. If treatment is delayed, the risk of infertility rises. There are two methods of diagnosing endometriosis. The surgical method is called laparoscopy. This outpatient surgery consists of sending a thin tube with a camera into the abdomen. This camera allows doctors to see if there is endometriosis and how advanced it appears. If something is fixable, they will do that if possible such as fallopian tubes unblocked or remove cysts and lesions. The non-surgical method involved taking the gynecological history of the woman including a family history of the disease.

With no known cause of endometriosis, there has yet to be a cure found. There are several available treatments based on the preference of the woman with guidance of healthcare professionals. Pain killers are common among sufferers. Hormonal treatments are designed to reduce oestrogen production, as reseachers agree that endometriosis is exacerbated by it. Hormal therapy may include birth control pills, drugs known as GnRH-agonists, progestins (including IUD), and rarely danazol. Some women are misleas into believing a hysterectomy will cure endometriosis, but it can return even after a hysterectomy.

Proper nutrition is vital to ensure the body is ready for treatments and side effects. Proper nutrition often increases the body's ability to handle the side effects of treatments and increases energy. While complementary therapies are not proven to reduce the pain or effects of endometriosis, many women do find relief in these therapies. Support groups are also beneficial in education the woman and helping her to cope.

All women need to be educated on the symptoms and effects of endometriosis. With proper treatments women suffering from endometriosis can find pain relief. Finding support from other women eases the suffering and can inspire women to try new therapies to find relief. There are many websites devoted to endometriosis and educating the public on this painful disease.