endometriosis

• what is endometriosis

  it is the name given to the condition where cells similar to the ones in the lining of the womb (uterus) are found elsewhere in the body. each months these cells react in the same way to those on the womb, building up and breaking down and bleeding. unlike the cells in the womb that leave the body as a period, this blood has no way to escape. in the UK, 1.5 million and those assigned female at birth are currently living with the condition, regardless of race or ethnicity. endometriosis can affect you from puberty to menopause, although the impact may be felt for life.
• causes of endometriosis

  .genetic- the condition tends to run in families and affect people of certain ethnic groups more than other

  . a problem with the immune system, the body's natural defense against illness and infection

  . endometriosis cells spreading trough the body in the bloodstream or lymphatic system, a series of tubes and glands that form part of the immune system

  but none of these theories fully explains why endometriosis happens. its likely the condition is caused by a combination of different factors.
• pelvic pain

  that occurs thought the month, an not just with your period, is another common symptom of endometriosis. the pelvic floor is a network of muscles and nerves that support your bladder, bowel and reproductive organs. endometriosis can cause inflammation in the pelvic floor that leads to pain and muscle spams in this region. when the pelvic floor is impacted by endometriosis, it can feel like having a muscle spasm in your pelvic, especially after intercourse. pain that radiates from your pelvic into your legs or back can also signal endometriosis.
• painful sex

  endometriosis most often occurs on or around organs in the pelvis. due to the formation of scar tissue inflammation, endometriosis can cause painful sex. patients have reported painful intercourse to the point that they want to avoid intercourse altogether.
• bowel and bladder symptoms

  inflammatory proteins from endometriosis can travel to the bowels, causing nausea during your period as well as diarrhea, constipation or pain with urination throughout the month. there's also overlap between endometriosis and conditions such as IBS. if you have IBS endometriosis can your symptoms worse, especially around the time of your period.
• unexplained infertility

  endometriosis can cause fertility problem. this is not fully understood, but is thought to be because of damage to the fallopian tube or ovaries.
• pelvic exam

  a health care professional feels area in your pelvis with one or two gloved finger to check for any unusual change. these changes can include cysts on the reproductive organs, painful spots, irregular growth called nodules and scar behind the uterus. often small areas of endometriosis cant be felt unless a cyst has formed.
• ultrasound

  this uses sound waves to make pictures of the inside of the body. to capture the image, a device called transducer might be pressed against the stomach area. or it mar be place into the vagina in a version of the exam called transvaginal ultrasound. both types of the test may be dome to get the best view of the reproductive organs. a standard ultrasound wont confirm whether you have endometriosis. but if can find cysts linked with the condition called endometriosis.
• MRI

  this uses a magnetic field and radio waves to make images of the organs and tissues within the body. for some, an MRI helps with surgical planning. it gives the surgeon detailed information about the location and size of endometriosis growth.
• laparoscopy

  you may be referred to surgeon for this procedure. laparoscopy lets the surgeon check inside you abdomen for sign of endometriosis tissue. before the surgery, you receive medicine that put you a sleep like state and prevents pain. then your surgeon makes a tiny cut near your navel and inserts a slender viewing instrument called laparoscope. this can provide information about the location, extent and size the endometriosis growth. the surgeon may take a tissue sample called biopsy.
• hormonal contraceptives 


  birth control, pills, shot, patches and vaginal rings help control the hormones that stimulate endometriosis. may have lighter and shorter menstrual flow when they use hormonal birth control. using hormonal contraceptive may ease or get rid of pain in some cases. the chance of relief seem to go up if you use birth control pills for a year or more with no breaks.
• Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (Gn-RH) agonists and antagonists


  these medicines block the menstrual cycle and lower estrogen levels. this causes endometriosis tissue to shrink. these medicine create an artificial menopause. taking a low dose of estrogen or progestin along with Gn-RH agonists and antagonists may ease menopausal side effects. those include hot flashes, vaginal dryness and bone less. menstrual periods and the ability to get pregnant return when you stop taking the medicine.
• progestin therapy

  progestin is a lab made version of a hormone that plays a role in the menstrual cycle and pregnancy. a variety of progestin treatments can stop menstrual periods and the growth the endometriosis tissue, which may relive symptoms. progestin therapies include a tiny device placed in the uterus that releases levonorgestrel (Mirena, Skyla, others), a contraceptive rod placed under the skin of the arm (Nexplanon), birth control shots (Depo-Provera) or a progestin-only birth control pill (Camila, Slynd)
• aromatase inhibitor

  these are a class of medicine that lower the amount of estrogen in the body. your health care team may recommend an aromatase inhibitor along with a progestin or combination birth control pills to treat endometriosis.