Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus, also known as the endometrium, grows outside the uterus. In this condition, the endometrium can grow in the ovaries, stomach lining, intestines, vagina, or urinary tract.
Endometriosis can cause pain, especially during menstruation, to cause fertility problems. Fortunately, there are several effective treatments for this condition. Below are some things you need to know about endometriosis.
What is the Endometrium.
The endometrium is the tissue that lines the uterine wall. Before menstruation, the endometrium will thicken in preparation for the attachment of a fertilized egg. If the egg is not fertilized, the endometrium will break down and shed blood during menstruation.
In people with endometriosis, endometrial-like tissue that grows outside the uterus will also experience thickening, shedding, and turning into blood with each menstrual cycle. However, because it has no exit route from the body, blood resulting from the shed of endometrial-like tissue will be trapped and can trigger cysts to form. As a result, the surrounding tissue will experience irritation and injury.
Illustration of endometrial in the uterus
Endometriosis symptoms
The main symptom of endometriosis is pelvic pain, often associated with menstruation. Although almost all women experience cramps during their periods, people with endometriosis will tend to describe menstrual pain as much more severe than usual.
Other common signs and symptoms of endometriosis include the following:
- Menstrual pain (dysmenorrhea).
- Pain during or after sexual intercourse.
- Pain when defecating or urinating is usually easily felt during menstruation.
- Excessive bleeding during menstruation.
- Fertility problems. Not infrequently, people with endometriosis find their condition when treating fertility problems.
Causes of Endometriosis
Although the exact cause of endometriosis is not known, some possible explanations are as follows:
- Retrograde menstruation or menstruation that is reversed.
In this case, menstrual blood containing endometrial cells flows back through the fallopian tubes and into the pelvic cavity instead of out of the body.
- Changes in peritoneal cells.
Experts think that hormones or immune cells can promote the transformation of peritoneal cells. These cells line the inside of the abdomen into cells similar to the endometrium.
- Embryonic cell transformation.
Hormones such as estrogen can transform embryonic cells in the early stages of development into endometrial-like cells when they enter puberty.
- Surgical scar.
After surgery, such as a hysterectomy or cesarean section, endometrial cells attach to the surgical incision.
- Immune system disorders.
Normal shed endometrium will be removed through the menstrual process.
Endometriosis Risk Factors
Here are some factors that can put you at greater risk of endometriosis:
- Women who have never given birth.
- Start menstruating at an early age.
- Experiencing menopause at an older age
- Have short menstrual cycles, less than 27 days.
- A heavy menstrual period lasts for more than seven days.
- Have a low body mass index (BMI).
- Having a family with endometriosis.
Endometriosis usually begins to develop several years after the first menstruation. Signs and symptoms of endometriosis may improve briefly with pregnancy and completely disappear when you enter the menopause phase.
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Source:
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2018). Endometriosis. [online]. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/endometriosis/symptoms-causes/