Information about ENDOMETRIOSIS

• ENDOMETRIOSIS- Occurs when uterine cells develop outside of a woman's uterus. These cells leave the inner uterus and attach to the exterior of the uterus and also can be found on other organs such as the kidneys, liver, bowel, ovaries, stomach, and have even been found in RARE cases on the brain, lungs, arms, legs, genital area, and other external surfaces of the body.

Each month as a woman is preparing to menstruate the Endometrial adhesions begin to react to the body's hormonal command to shed the uterine lining. The adhesions break open and bleed. This causes SEVERE pain, and inhibiting effects on a woman. This is an excruciating pain that is sometimes too powerful for mere words. There is no cure for ENDOMETRIOSIS and the only thing that can be offered are numerous hormonal therapies, and frequent surgeries that can offer some comfort from the pain.

Symptoms of ENDOMETRIOSIS

• Severe menstrual cramps - usually effect the hips, abdomen, lower, middle, and sometimes upper back pain.

• Pelvic Pressure

• Pain during or after sexual intercourse - most sufferers complain of sharp, intense, shooting pain during the act or after the act of sexual intercourse.

• Painful bowel movements - due to the occasional growth of adhesions on the intestine, bowel movements, gas, and other functions may cause intense pain.

• Pain within the abdomen, tends to be lower - Sometimes, the pain is chronic and is noticeable even when the sufferer isn't menstruating. Sharp pains that can come and go or constantly be a nuisance.

These are the basic and most common signs of ENDOMETRIOSIS. If you feel that you have these symptoms or even suspect please see a gynocologist as soon as you possibly can. The earlier you can be diagnosed the better your chances are of having early and effective treatment for ENDO.

ENDOMETRIOSIS and fertility

ENDOMETRIOSIS can be classified from minimal to severe. However, the intensity of a womans pain does not depend on the amount of endometrial adhesions she has. Most women with severe ENDOMETRIOSIS are infertile and unable to conceive. A heartbreaking effect from this evil disease. This effects 30-40% of ENDOMETRIOSIS sufferers. 1 in 3 cases of infertility are caused by ENDO.

• Scarring of the fallopian tubes prevents ovum from traveling to the uterus for fertilization.

• Damage to the ovaries from scarring destroys the ovaries and causes permanent and untreatable damage.

• Higher instances of ectopic pregnancies due to scarring, eggs can become trapped in the narrow tubes, be fertilized and remain in the tube for the remainder of the pregnancy.

• Hardening of uterus and surrounding organs from healed scar tissue due to the varying amounts of adhesions and scar tissue in some cases the healed/healing tissue will harden causing pain during pregnancy.

What ENDOMETRIOSIS looks like

These pictures were taken in July of 1998 during a routine Laparoscopy. These are the pictures from my own operation. In the picture you can see the ACTUAL endometrial adhesions on the exterior of the uterus, the adhesions appear as little white dots or blisters.

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