Endometriosis

What is Endometriosis?

The endometrium is the inner lining of the uterus. During your menstrual cycle, it thickens and if pregnancy does not happen, it is shed during your menstruation. 

Endometriosis is a condition where the endometrium grows on other parts of your body. It often affects your ovaries, fallopian tubes and tissues lining the pelvis. It thickens and gets shed like normal endometrial tissue. However, this abnormally grown endometrium has no means of leaving the body. Over time, this process can lead to the formation of cysts in the ovaries or scar tissues and nodules on the surface of pelvic organs. 

Endometriosis is a common condition that affects about 1 in 10 women worldwide. 

What symptoms does Endometriosis have?

The most common symptom of endometriosis is pelvic pain, these symptoms could be intense or mild and it may worsen just before or during your menstruation. 

Other symptoms of endometriosis include:

• Painful menstrual cramps
• Abdominal or back pain during menstruation
• Heavy bleeding during menstruation
• Spotting between menstruation
• Pain during sex
• Infertility
• Pain when urinating or passing motion
• Stomach problems such as diarrhoea, constipation or bloating

Sometimes patients may have no symptoms and may not know they have it until they are unable to get pregnant. 

What causes Endometriosis?

The exact cause of endometriosis isn't clear but some possible causes include:

• Retrograde menstruation: This happens when the menstrual blood flows back through the fallopian tubes and into the pelvic cavity instead of out through the body. The menstrual blood carries endometrial cells which may stick to the pelvic walls and surfaces of pelvic organ. There, they may grow and continue to thicken and bleed. 
• Surgical scar complication: Endometrial cells may attach to scar tissues from cuts made during surgery, such as a C-section.

What are the risk factors of Endometriosis?

Some factors that raise the risk of endometriosis include:

• Never giving birth
• Short menstrual cycles (fewer than 27 days between periods)
• Having long and heavy menstruation (longer than eight days)
• A family history of endometriosis, such as with your mother, aunt or sister.

How is Endometriosis diagnosed?

Imaging Tests
Imaging tests are done with MRI to check the location and size of the endometriosis growth.

Pelvic Examination
Performed by your healthcare provider with one or two gloved fingers to check for any unusual changes, including cysts, painful spots, irregular gro9wths or scars on the reproductive organs.

Ultrasound
A transvaginal ultrasound may be conducted for an analysis of your uterus to check for abnormalities in your uterine lining.