Endometriosis Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment By on August 15, 2012

Endometriosis is a common and often painful disorder affecting women in which the endometrium grows outside of the uterus. It is estimated that between 20 to 50 percent of women being treated for infertility have endometriosis, and as many as 80 percent of women with pelvic pain have the disorder. It is common for women to be diagnosed with endometriosis between the ages of 25 to 35, but women can be affected by endometriosis as soon as they begin to menstruate. For the majority of women, endometriosis involves the ovaries, bowels, and the tissue lining the pelvis. Though rare, endometrial tissue may spread beyond the pelvic region.

In endometriosis, displaced endometrial tissue breaks down and bleeds with each menstrual cycle. This displaced tissue becomes trapped in the body. Tissues surrounding this displaced endometrial tissue become irritated and, over time, may start to develop scar tissue and adhesions. Sadly, endometriosis is a leading cause of female factor infertility.

Symptoms Associated with Endometriosis

Not every woman who has endometriosis will experience symptoms. While this is true, many of our Los Angeles fertility center patients with endometriosis suffer from symptoms. Common symptoms of endometriosis include:

Painful menstruation
Pain before menstruation
Pain during intercourse
Pain during bowel movements or urination (especially during menstruation)
Heavy bleeding during menstruation
Bleeding between menstruation
Fatigue
Infertility
Bloating, constipation, nausea, and diarrhea (especially during menstruation)
Lower abdominal pain
Lower back pain
Irregular periods
Blood in the urine

What Causes Endometriosis?

The cause of endometriosis is unknown. One theory is retrograde menstruation. In retrograde menstruation, endometrial cells carried by menstrual blood flow back through the fallopian tubes and pelvic cavity instead of exiting the body. These endometrial cells then adhere to the pelvic walls and surrounding organs. The displaced endometrial cells continue to grow, thicken, and bleed during the course of the menstrual cycle. While retrograde menstruation may contribute to endometriosis, it is not the sole cause. Although women with retrograde menstruation may develop endometriosis as a result of the condition, it is possible for women with retrograde menstruation to never develop endometriosis. Like endometriosis, the cause of retrograde menstruation is unknown.

Risk Factors

Because the cause of endometriosis is unknown, there is no way to prevent the disorder. There are factors that place women at a greater risk of developing endometriosis. These risk factors include:

Never giving birth
Being a tall, thin woman with a low body mass index
Having a female relative (sister, aunt, mother) who has been diagnosed with endometriosis
Having a menstrual cycle that is shorter than 27 days with bleeding that continues for more than 8 days
Having a history of pelvic infections

Treatment

The most distressing and common symptom of endometriosis is infertility. While endometriosis can make it difficult for a woman to become pregnant, there are effective treatments to minimize the symptoms of the disorder as well as achieve pregnancy. For our patients in Los Angeles, endometriosis treatment may include surgery to remove scarring and adhesions. This is usually done laparoscopically. Because there is a high rate of recurrence, we recommend that our patients do not delay fertility treatment after surgery. It is estimated that 40 percent of women will have a recurrence of endometriosis at some point following surgery. Many patients with endometriosis choose in vitro fertilization (IVF) to help make their dreams of parenthood a reality. Our Los Angeles IVF specialist will be happy to discuss all of the treatment options available in great detail during your personalized consultation.