How Endometriosis Can Prevent Women Over 30 from Having a Child

Any woman over thirty who has not yet had a child is at risk of becoming infertile due a common medical condition called endometriosis. This condition is currently being experienced by approximately 100 million women across the Unites States and is often misdiagnosed as menstrual symptoms. Endometriosis is most often caused by greater than normal amounts of the hormone estrogen in the body.

When a woman goes through her menstrual cycle, the endometrial lining of the uterus is discarded by the body in the form of blood filled tissue, this occurs because of the natural cycle of hormone production in the female body. In the condition known as endometriosis, some of the blood filled tissue is transported to other organs and body parts rather than excreted, this may end up in the bladder, bowel and small intestine as well as other major organs and tissues and cause infections and other health issues, one of which is infertility.

Endometriosis has many symptoms common to the normal menses but women need to be vigilant in diagnosing themselves, especially is there is a sudden increase in one of the symptoms compared to the previous month. The symptoms include ; painful bowel movement, painful sexual intercourse, nausea, vomiting, pre menstrual spotting and abdominal pain.

A tell tale sign of endometriosis is that the pain in the abdomen as well as the tenderness of the breasts and back pain do not decrease immediately after the menstrual cycle is completed. Instead the pain would get progressively worse, this pain may also radiate to other areas of the body indicating that something other than the menses is responsible for the pain.

Having an undiagnosed or untreated case of endometriosis inevitably causes a lowering of the efficiency of the woman's reproductive system, and if left unchecked can result in infertility. This is due generally to the fact that the bloody tissue could attach itself to the walls of the vagina and other organs. The untreated endometriosis can also cause scarring and the formation of scar tissue in the reproductive organs and may just inhibit childbirth (by forming a blockage).

If you are diagnosed with endometriosis, there are many treatment options which can help to both cure and reduce the effects of this debilitating disease. Laser surgery can be used to remove fragmented and scarred tissue from the woman's vagina, while other medications help to reduce the number or periods that a woman has by encouraging the body to produce more estrogen. Endometriosis has the potential to make women over 30 sterile, you can ensure that you do not become one of them by being proactive and visiting your doctor if you suspect that you have this disease.

References
1. http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp013.cfm
2. Before You Call The Doctor. Ballentine Books. New York. 1992
3. http://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/endometriosis.cfm