Endometriosis Awareness Week

This week is Endometriosis Awareness Week and as I work in a very busy fertility clinic and have met some lovely ladies suffering from this condition, I wanted to raise some awareness of it on my blog today.

Endometriosis is a condition where cells similar to those in the endometrial lining (lining of the womb) are found elsewhere in the body.

As we all know, every month females going through hormonal changes so naturally released hormones can cause the lining of the uterus to increase in preparation for a fertilized egg. If the egg does not become fertilized then the lining breaks down again and you have a period so that the lining can be released from your body.

Endometriosis reacts in the same way but the difference is, these cells are outside the womb. The endometriosis is stimulated with the hormones released and this causes is to grow, break down and bleed. Unlike a period, this blood remains internal as it can’t leave the body. This can lead to pain, inflammation and the development of adhesions, which is scar tissue. This can sometimes be found in the ovaries and can form cysts.

It is important to note that endometriosis is not an infection and is not contagious. It is not cancer.

Endometriosis is commonly found around the reproductive organs; around the pelvis, around the ovaries, the fallopian tubes, on the outside of the womb or in the pouch of douglas (the area between your rectum and uterus). It can also grow in existing scars from previous surgeries, such as a cesarean scar. Endometriosis is rarely found in other body parts such as the spine, lungs, eyes and brain.

Around one and a half million women in the UK suffer from endometriosis. Louise Rednapp was a famous sufferer of the condition. It’s a debilitating condition that can have a massive impact on the sufferer’s life. It causes chronic pain, lack of energy, depression and it can also cause problems conceiving children. There are ways to manage the pain and there are certainly ways of helping women with endometriosis conceive.

Endometriosis is difficult to diagnose because not all sufferers have symptoms and the ones that do can have symptoms that vary in their intensity. The most common symptoms are painful and heavy periods, irregular periods, painful sex, pain after sex, infertility and fatigue. All these symptoms can indicate other problems as well so it is vital you get some medical advice if you do experience any of them. The amount of pain does not always match the amount of endometriosis and the pain is usually dependent on where the endometriosis is actually located.

A laparoscopy is usually used to diagnose endometriosis. This is usually performed under general anesthetic. A laparoscope (a small telescope with a light on the end) is inserted through the belly button into the pelvis and has a camera to transmit images for the doctor to look at. Carbon dioxide is normally used to extend the abdomen so the surgeon can visualise the organs clearly. If endometriosis is found  then it is possible for the surgeon the make a small cut and use surgical instruments to treat or remove part of the endometriosis for examination. The gas is then removed when the procedure is complete. This is usually a day procedure and is fairly routine. You will discuss the possibility of treating any endometriosis that is discovered prior to the procedure as this could mean a longer hospital stay.

There is no cure for endometriosis currently but there are treatments available to reduce the severity and improve the sufferers quality of life. These treatments would depend on the patients individual circumstances including their age, her symptoms, her desire to have children and the severity of her condition.

If you suffer from endometriosis and would like to look into the condition further, please visit Endometriosis UK www.endometrosis-uk.org

If you are an endometriosis sufferer and would like to look into your fertility options, please visit www.londonwomensclinic.com

xxx