More research, awareness, and access to diagnosis and treatment is needed world-wide to better determine the prevalence of endometriosis. If you have painful periods and pelvic pain, see your healthcare provider and let them know if you think something is wrong. For more information, read in detail about endometriosis symptoms, diagnosis and treatment. Whether you are trying to get a diagnosis or to access appropriate medical care, there are endometriosis support organizations around the world who are there to help.
Download Clue to track pain, bleeding, and other symptoms. This information that may help with diagnosis and in forming a management plan. Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory disease, affecting up to 1 in 10 women, and yet treatment options are limited. Science is evolving each day on how coronavirus affects pregnancy, lactation, and postpartum. When you subscribe to Clue Plus, you don't only get new features: you also fund important research, support data privacy, Clue Birth Control.
Close main menu Homepage Encyclopedia. Menstrual Cycle. Birth Control. About Clue. App Store Play Store. How prevalent is endometriosis? In rare cases, the disease is so severe that a laparoscopy may not be possible. A full incision called a laparotomy may be required. This operation requires a larger open incision and several nights in the hospital as well as a longer recovery time.
Unless the disease is very advanced this is unlikely to be necessary. A hysterectomy should be reserved as a last resort in extreme cases and only after a woman has completed her family.
Our researchers are at the forefront of looking into the root causes of endometriosis, including how genetic factors play a role. Having medical and surgical options allows women to weigh all of their choices at once.
Skip to Main Content. Print Share Download. What is endometriosis? What are the risk factors for endometriosis? These include: Family history: Women with female relatives who have had endometriosis are more likely to develop it themselves. Never having been pregnant: Because pregnancy will sometimes reduce the symptoms of endometriosis, women who have never been pregnant are at a higher risk.
Retrograde menstruation: This occurs when monthly discharge that would normally leave the body through the vagina flows backward into the fallopian tubes. Nearly all women experience a small degree of retrograde menstruation, yet only about 10 percent will develop endometriosis. In these cases, small pieces of endometrial tissue may grow inside the abdominal cavity.
Experts at Yale are working to understand why some women develop endometriosis under these circumstances, while others do not. What are the symptoms of endometriosis? Does endometriosis affect fertility?
How is endometriosis diagnosed? Our experts offer women experiencing fibroids a wide range of treatment options, including alternatives to hysterectomy. Sometimes, a combination of therapies is used, such as conservative surgery laparoscopy or laparotomy , along with hormone therapy. Some women also benefit from alternative treatments used in conjunction with other medical and surgical therapies for the treatment of endometriosis.
These include:. It is important to discuss any or all of these treatments thoroughly with your health care provider, as some may conflict with the effectiveness of others. Health Home Conditions and Diseases. Endometriosis Definition Endometriosis is a common gynecological condition affecting an estimated 2 to 10 percent of American women of childbearing age. Read more. Causes of Endometriosis The causes of endometriosis are still unknown. Where Endometriosis Can Occur The most common sites of endometriosis include: The ovaries The fallopian tubes Ligaments that support the uterus uterosacral ligaments The posterior cul-de-sac, i.
Risk Factors of Endometriosis While any woman may develop endometriosis, the following women seem to be at an increased risk for the disease: Women who have a first-degree relative mother, sister, daughter with the disease Women who are giving birth for the first time after age 30 Women with an abnormal uterus Endometriosis Symptoms The following are the most common symptoms for endometriosis, but each woman may experience symptoms differently or some may not exhibit any symptoms at all.
Relationship of Endometriosis to Infertility Endometriosis is considered one of the three major causes of female infertility. Diagnosing Endometriosis For many women, simply having a diagnosis of endometriosis brings relief. Other examinations that may be used in the diagnosis of endometriosis include: Ultrasound : A diagnostic imaging technique that uses high-frequency sound waves to create an image of the internal organs CT scan : A noninvasive diagnostic imaging procedure that uses a combination of X-rays and computer technology to produce horizontal, or axial, images — often called slices — of the body to detect any abnormalities that may not show up on an ordinary X-ray MRI scan : A noninvasive procedure that produces a two-dimensional view of an internal organ or structure Stages of Endometriosis A staging, or classification, system for endometriosis has been developed by the American Society of Reproductive Medicine.
The stages are classified as follows: Stage 1: Minimal Stage 2: Mild Stage 3: Moderate Stage 4: Severe The stage of endometriosis is based on the location, amount, depth and size of the endometrial tissue. Specific criteria include: The extent of the spread of the tissue The involvement of pelvic structures in the disease The extent of pelvic adhesions The blockage of the fallopian tubes The stage of the endometriosis does not necessarily reflect the level of pain experienced, risk of infertility or symptoms present.
Endometriosis Treatment Options Specific treatment for endometriosis will be determined by your health care provider based on: Your overall health and medical history Current symptoms Extent of the disease Your tolerance for specific medications, procedures or therapies Expectations for the course of the disease Your opinion or preference Your desire for pregnancy If symptoms are mild, health care providers generally agree that no further treatment, other than pain medication, is necessary.
Laparotomy : A more extensive surgery to remove as much of the displaced endometrium as possible without damaging healthy tissue Hysterectomy : Surgery to remove the uterus and possibly the ovaries. Johns Hopkins Fibroid Center Our experts offer women experiencing fibroids a wide range of treatment options, including alternatives to hysterectomy.
There is no known cause of endometriosis but it is highly likely that certain genes predispose women to develop the disease [6]. It is possible that age when the menstrual period starts, other gynaecologic factors, and environmental exposures influence whether a woman is affected.
Whereas evidence has been weak with regards to exposure to dioxin an environmental pollutant [8] some evidence now supports exacerbation of its symptoms due to PCBs. Some studies have linked the presence of endometriosis with the development of ovarian cancer; however, the association is not definitive and the absolute risk for a given woman with endometriosis is exceedingly low.
Whereas endometriosis cells have been localised adjacent to ovarian cancer cells, the former has not been proven to be a pre-cursor to cancer []. Even though endometriosis is associated with inflammation and immunological dysfunctions, it has not been proven itself to be an autoimmune disease [8].
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