Let’s talk about an important warning for women’s health: Endometriosis is a disease responsible for affecting the fertility of more than 3 million Brazilian women. We need to raise awareness of the importance of medical follow-up for periodic examinations that can diagnose Endometriosis at a mild stage in order to start treatment.
What is Endometriosis?
It is a disease in which fragments of the endometrium (the tissue that lines the inside of the uterus and is eliminated during menstruation) grow outside the uterus. Normal endometrial tissue changes each month during the menstrual cycle, becoming thicker from the middle to the end of the menstrual cycle as the blood supply increases in response to the female sex hormones (estrogen and progesterone). If a pregnancy does not occur, the endometrial lining is expelled from the body in the form of menstrual bleeding.
In endometriosis, the endometrium proliferates outside its regular anatomy. In this condition, the tissue is identified as implants or lesions, which can be found in the ovaries, fallopian tubes (which connect the ovaries and the uterus), intestines, bladder or other parts of the abdomen.
On rare occasions, implants can appear outside the abdomen (in the lungs, for example). Some implants are as small as a pinhead, while others are as big as an orange. It is rare for an endometriotic implant to become malignant or cancerous. Like the endometrium, endometriotic implants located outside the uterus undergo the same changes as the endometrium due to hormonal action. These changes lead to bleeding, which creates an inflammatory process in the surrounding tissue, resulting in irritation and scarring. As this scar tissue grows it can form adhesions – so called because the tissue can act like a spider’s web to connect the surfaces of internal organs. Implants and adhesions can cause pain, abnormal periods, painful intercourse and possibly infertility.
What are the symptoms of Endometriosis?
Despite being common, endometriosis is still a little-known disease. Because it doesn’t show symptoms right from the start, it can take a long time to diagnose the disease, which contributes to worsening the condition. When symptoms are present, a woman can feel them:
- intense cramps;
- menstrual pain;
- discomfort during sexual intercourse;
- pain during urination and bowel movements;
- thigh and lower back pain;
- increased urgency to urinate;
- constipation.
In addition to the pain and discomfort present, endometriosis is also strongly linked to infertility. Of the women affected by the disease, almost 50% suffer from infertility caused by
What is the treatment?
For endometriosis, clinical treatment is initially indicated, with the aim of controlling symptoms and improving the condition. The doctor responsible for monitoring women with endometriosis has options such as oral contraceptives, intramuscular injections or even the IUD (Intrauterine Device) and hormonal implants.
Other treatments that can be used to offer comfort and relieve symptoms are physiotherapy, acupuncture and the use of painkillers. In cases where clinical treatment has failed, the doctor may re-evaluate the course of action and recommend surgery.
This intervention is indicated for the complete removal of foci of endometriosis, restoring anatomy and preserving a woman’s reproductive function. However, it is important to understand that the disease has no cure.
For this reason, it is essential for women to have regular check-ups. In this way, it is possible to make an early diagnosis, which contributes to the proper treatment of the disease and avoids consequences such as infertility.