Pelvic Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a common disease (there are more than 1 million cases in the U.S. alone), which can affect any woman of childbearing age, since the first menstruation or menarche to menopause, but sometimes lasts until after the menopause.
The disease impairs quality of life of women with the disease, its relationships, family and even work. Its symptoms are primarily carecterizan what is known as the three Ds: Dysmenorrhea,
Dyspareunia (pain during sex) and more commonly, pelvic pain, especially in the lower abdomen, in the lower back and pelvis itself. There may also be hypermenorrhea abundant menstrual bleeding or even inter-menstrual.
For these women at the same time it becomes difficult or impossible to become pregnant, and often have intestinal disorders such as diarrhea, constipation, painful bowel movements or cramps. And always feel tired.
Achieving determine the diagnosis for endometriosis is difficult, hence the need to perform one or more tests, including an pelvic ultrasound or MRI.
Laparoscopy may be required to review the inside of organs and display any or ectopic endometrial tissue outside the uterus. Laparoscopy shows the location and extent of endometrial lesions, which are biopsied later.
There is evidence that women with this disease are more likely than other women to suffer immune system disorders in which the body attacks its own tissues (autoimmune diseases) and that women with endometriosis are also more likely to suffer fatigue syndrome chronic fibromyalgia.
Endometriosis can not be cured by medicine. However, there are many treatments, each with advantages and disadvantages.
For women with mild symptoms may not need treatment other than pain medications or analgesics. According to doctors, if they wish to become pregnant (although it depends on the age and the amount of pain), the ideal is to have a trial period (from 6 months to a year) having unprotected sex. If pregnancy does not occur, the chances are you need more tratamiento.
Las want no family can be treated with hormones, which is effective when tumors are small. There are several options in this area, including a combination of estrogen and progesterone, birth control pills, progesterone alone, and agonist of gonadotropin-releasing hormone.
Birth control pills control the growth of the endometrium and often decrease the amount of menstrual flow. These tend to satisfy two hormones, a progestin and an estrogen.
GnRH agonists (used daily in nasal nebulizer, or as an injection applied monthly or quarterly) prevent the body from making certain hormones to prevent menstruation. And without menstruation, the growth of endometriosis is reduced or stopped. Side effects, however, are hot flashes, fatigue, insomnia, headache, depression, osteoporosis and vaginal dryness. Administration is recommended for about six months, after that, resume menses and may be pregnant.
Normally, surgery is the best option for women with extensive endometriosis, or suffering severe pain. Some are major and minor. With laparoscopy, for example, tumors are removed and the scar tissue is destroyed with heat or intense and close blood vessels without stitches. The idea is to treat the endometriosis without harming healthy tissue around it. Recovery is quick.
The latest resources for treating the disease are laparotomy, major surgery that removes the endometriosis, and hysterectomy, which can be removed the uterus, ovaries and fallopian tubes. Yes, undergo surgical procedures can not guarantee that the disease does not recur or that the pain will be removed completely.
It is normal for patients with endometriosis at first feel emotions such as sadness, fear, anger, confusion or loneliness, and, above all, uncertainty. It is therefore important to get support from your partner, family and friends and learn everything I can about the disease. Sometimes groups are useful for treatment and support will be essential to do relaxation exercises, particularly during periods of acute pain.