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Pain and infertility during a woman’s reproductive years may point to one condition known as endometriosis. Today, over 10 million women in the U.S. alone have endometriosis but remain unaware since it generally takes 8-10 years after symptoms begin before a woman is diagnosed.  Endometriosis is a painful disease where the tissue usually found inside the uterus on the uterine wall is now outside the uterus.  How will you know if you have endometriosis so you receive proper treatment?

 

 

There are many symptoms associated with endometriosis that each woman in their reproductive years should be informed about.  However, this disease is commonly misdiagnosed as some women show no symptoms. Typically, endometriosis causes cramps with menses, fatigue, pelvic pain, infertility, and pain with intercourse.

 

The only way to diagnose endometriosis accurately is to have a laparoscopy performed since there is no blood or urine test to confirm the condition.  The severe pain linked to endometriosis is due to the misplaced tissue that grows outside the uterus.  During a menstrual cycle, blood from the endometrial growths has no way of exiting the body unlike the endometrial tissue lining the uterus.

 

When that happens, it causes inflammation of the surrounding tissue as the blood remains in the body.  As a result, scar tissue and adhesions form around pelvic organs and compress them to the point it interferes in the organ’s function.  Organs responsible for fertility become damaged or blocked during severe endometriosis as 30-40% of women with endometriosis suffer from infertility.

 

 

If a laparoscopy reveals growths, standard treatment is to remove the growth by having laparoscopic excision surgery.  This type of surgery will excise the disease from above and below the surface.  The earlier you get diagnosed, the sooner you become aware of your condition and get the infertility treatment you need to relieve your pain!