Endometriosis

Endometriosis occurs mainly in young women in the reproductive stage of their lives and can affect 10% to 15% of women in this age range. It can also be found in approximately half of the women who have difficulty achieving pregnancy spontaneously.

The exact cause is unknown; however, we know that some genetic and hereditary factors put certain women at risk of developing this disease.

There are many theories about its exact cause. However, one of the most accurate is the retrograde flow of menstrual bleeding; in other words, the material that was supposed to be expelled through the vaginal canal returns through the Fallopian tubes and reaches the abdominal cavity and the internal pelvic organs.

It should be made clear that many women present this retrograde flow of menstrual bleeding. Still, only a few develop the disease because the body typically has the immunological resources to eliminate the small amounts of endometrium that fall into the pelvis. Some women have an immune system prone to increased inflammation, so endometrial focal points are not eliminated. Instead, the inflammatory changes that accompany Endometriosis develop.

It is also important to know that Endometriosis depends on estrogen production. Although estrogens produced in the ovaries are necessary for many of a woman’s normal bodily functions, they are also the source of endometrial growth and Endometriosis.

The main symptom that a woman with Endometriosis may have is severe pelvic pain. This pain becomes more robust during menstrual and sexual intercourse but can also manifest with pain in the rectum, bladder, back, and extremities. However, in many women, the first sign is the difficulty in achieving pregnancy spontaneously.

It is important to know that not all women with these symptoms have Endometriosis, but it should be among the principal diagnostic options.

Diagnosing this disease is not easy, and on many occasions, it is necessary to perform invasive procedures to confirm its presence.

The first indication of the disease is given by the symptoms reported by the patient, supported by a complete gynecological examination, which can be more uncomfortable and painful in patients with this disease.

 It is necessary to have an ultrasound examination, preferably transvaginal, to detect lesions caused by Endometriosis, such as cysts or organ retractions. However, Endometriosis frequently generates small lesions not detected by this examination.

The ideal method for diagnosing Endometriosis is laparoscopy. This procedure consists of introducing a camera through the navel and insufflating the abdomen with a gas (CO2) to observe the abdominal cavity and pelvic organs directly. This enables the physician to diagnose the disease and treat or remove the lesions found at that time, such as red or black spots of the disease, ovarian cysts, or adhesions release.

In most cases, laparoscopy is sufficient to diagnose Endometriosis properly. Still, in some instances, it is necessary to take samples of abdominal tissue that may look healthy to send them to the pathology laboratory to confirm the presence or absence of the disease.

The treatment can be divided into two main groups:

Women with a desire to become pregnant:

In this case, treatment depends on the severity of the disease and how much of the pelvic organ is affected. As a first step, performing a diagnostic and operative laparoscopy is advisable to confirm the presence of the disease and treat the lesions found during the procedure.

Treatment can be performed to achieve pregnancy depending on the type of condition and to what degree it is involved in the reproductive system. They range from considerably basic treatments, such as ovarian stimulation to ensure ovulation, to treatments involving gamete manipulation, such as in vitro fertilization, when the involvement of the Endometriosis is greater.

The type of treatment also depends on the woman’s age. The older the woman, the lower her fertility and the more prolonged her exposure to the disease. In patients diagnosed with Endometriosis, the recommendation is to seek pregnancy early or at least not to postpone pregnancy for too long. Age and the disease’s evolution period are factors that most hinder pregnancy achievement.

In all cases, it is necessary to evaluate the quality of the partner’s sperm to choose the most appropriate and effective treatment.

Women with no desire for pregnancy:

In this case, the treatment is focused on improving the symptoms produced by the disease and preventing the progression of the lesions. Besides laparoscopy as the primary procedure, if no immediate pregnancy plans exist, hormonal drugs are the best choice, the main goal of which is to block the harmful effect of estrogens.

These medications can be oral contraceptives (preferably with progesterone compounds), injectable medications, hormone blockers, and even some that induces a kind of “menopause,” intended to reduce symptoms and prevent the progression of the disease, although they often have side effects.

More recently, an intrauterine device that releases hormones (progesterone) in a time-release manner that is comfortable to use, is effective and has few side effects have been used.

Pregnancy is the best natural treatment for Endometriosis due to its protective effect over the adverse effects of estrogens; it substantially improves the symptoms caused by the disease and, in many cases, returns the pelvic organs to their normal function.

Endometriosis is a disease that accompanies women during their reproductive life, and they can sometimes be affected even after menopause. Hence the great importance of diagnosis and treatment.