Endometriosis

What is endometriosis?

Your uterus is lined with cells called the endometrium. This is where a fertilized egg attaches if you get pregnant, but when pregnancy doesn’t occur, the lining sheds and bleeds as your menstrual period.

Endometriosis is diagnosed when this tissue grows outside of your uterus. It can appear on other reproductive organs, your anus, bladder, and rectum. 

The abnormal tissue cycles just like your uterine tissue, bleeding and shedding monthly. Because it’s abnormally placed, it doesn’t have a clear exit strategy, causing unusual internal bleeding, pain, and potentially infertility.

What are the symptoms of endometriosis?

Endometriosis doesn’t always cause symptoms. When it does, you may experience pelvic pain that ranges from moderate to severe. This pain can get worse during your period. Other symptoms include:

• Infertility
• Heavy menstrual bleeding
• Painful sex
• Pain during urination or bowel movements
• Bloating or nausea
• Diarrhea or constipation

 If you notice these symptoms, schedule a diagnostic exam to determine the cause.

How is endometriosis diagnosed?

The team at Raveco Medical may suspect endometriosis due to your symptoms or after conducting a routine pelvic exam, but the only reliable way to confirm the diagnosis is through laparoscopy. They can identify the irregular tissue and have it analyzed in a lab.

How is endometriosis treated?

Treatment focuses on managing symptoms to improve your quality of life. Pain medication reduces discomfort for the short term. Hormone therapy may be an option to ease your menstrual cycle and reduce pain and inflammation. 

Some drugs block your natural hormone production, but they may bring on temporary menopause and the associated symptoms.

The team at Raveco Medical may recommend surgery to remove bothersome endometrial tissue. In many cases, when tissue is removed, your fertility is restored, and you’re able to get pregnant. The surgery is done laparoscopically, so recovery is quick and complications rare. 

Raveco Medical makes every effort to find a conservative approach that yields results. In severe cases, however, hysterectomy may be the only way to effectively treat endometriosis.

To learn more about these and other treatment options, schedule a visit today. Online scheduling makes it easy to find a time that fits your schedule or call to check availability.