Endometriosis is a common cause of infertility. It is a disease, which is defined by local uterine tissue growing outside the uterus, which causes inflammation and irritation. It is one of the most painful disorders that occur when the tissue that usually lines the inside of the uterus, known as the endometrium, begins to develop outside the uterus. Endometriosis involves the followings:

1. The ovaries

2. Fallopian tubes

3. The tissue lining the pelvis area

In rare cases, the endometrial tissue tends to advances beyond the pelvic organs. The dislocated endometrial tissue usually thickens and often breaks down with each menstrual cycle. This causes heavy bleeding during the menstrual period, and at other times of the menstrual cycle. The displaced tissue does not have a way out of the body naturally and eventually, it gets trapped inside the system. In case the endometriosis includes the ovaries, there are greater chances of cysts formation known as endometriomas. The tissues around this area become irritated due to such cyst formation. It gradually develops surplus tissue and adhesions. Abnormal bands of fibrous tissue makes the pelvic tissues and the organs stick to one another.

Endometriosis causes mild to severe pain to the woman. The severity of the pain especially increases during her periods. This also results in infertility problems. However, there are effective treatments available for the syndrome.

Symptoms of Endometriosis

The complication that arises as the primary symptom of endometriosis is pelvic pain. This pain is more noticed during the menstrual period. It is common for women to experience cramping at the time of their menstrual period. Nonetheless, the pain suffered during the periods due to the effects of endometriosis is far worse than usual. The pain increases in severity over time.

Common Signs and Symptoms of Endometriosis

– Painful periods (Dysmenorrhea)

Dysmenorrhea or pain in the pelvic area during menstrual bleeding might extend quite a good number of days than usual due to the effects of endometriosis. Cramping is noticed before the beginning of the period accompanied by lower back and abdominal pain.

– Pain during intercourse

Women suffering from the syndrome of endometriosis experience pain during sexual intercourse. The effect remains even after sex and gives a burning sensation in the genitals. Some women lose all interest in sex because of the pain.

– Pain during bowel movements or urination

Women with endometriosis are most likely to experience symptoms like pain during bowel movements or urination during their period.

– Excessive bleeding

Occasional heavy periods apart from the scheduled dates, commonly known as menorrhagia, is noticed in women suffering from endometriosis. Excessive or bleeding between periods, commonly known as menometrorrhagia, is also noticed.

– Infertility

A woman diagnosed with endometriosis might suffer from infertility and need to seek treatment to overcome it.

– Other symptoms

Women are often noticed to be suffering from the following issues, especially during menstrual periods, due to the effect of endometriosis:

1. Fatigue

2. Diarrhoea

3. Constipation

4. Bloating

5. Nausea

The severity of the pain usually increases with the extremity of the condition and is a reliable indicator for understanding the seriousness. However, in some cases, women suffering from mild endometriosis may also experience intense pain. On the other hand, women suffering from advanced endometriosis may experience very little or even no pain at all.

Endometriosis can be mistaken for other conditions causing pelvic pain, like an ovarian cyst or pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). It might also be confused with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). In this syndrome, the woman suffers from abdominal cramping, bouts of diarrhoea, and constipation. This syndrome is usually accompanied by endometriosis.

Consulting the Doctor

It is always advised to women, right from the puberty initiation, to immediately consult a doctor in case they suffers from heavy or abnormal menstrual bleeding. Light to mild pain or cramps is considered to be normal during menstruation. However, severe pain should be immediately reported to the doctor. It is very important to see the doctor in case you have any signs and symptoms indicating endometriosis. An early diagnosis is always beneficial for both the patient and the medical team to manage it better.

Causes of Endometriosis

The exact cause of endometriosis is not yet definite. The possible clarifications related to this syndrome are:

– Retrograde Menstruation

Retrograde menstruation is one of the major causes of endometriosis. In this condition, the menstrual blood full of endometrial cells flows back through the fallopian tubes and accumulates into the pelvic cavity. Hence, it does not flow out of the body. The supplanted endometrial cells stick to the surfaces of pelvic organs and the pelvic walls. These cells grow there and continue to thicken and bleed over the course of each menstrual cycle.

– Embryonic Cell Transformation

Oestrogen hormone has the tendency to transform embryonic cells into endometrial cell implants during puberty during its early growth stages. This can cause endometriosis in women.

– Peritoneal Cells Transformation

The “induction theory,” researchers have found that immune or hormone factors stimulate peritoneal cell transformation. Hence, the cells lining inside the inner side of the abdomen gets transmuted into endometrial cells causing endometriosis.

– Endometrial Cells Transport

The lymphatic system transports endometrial cells to other parts of the body causing endometriosis.

– Disorder in the Immune System

Problems related to the immune system make the body unfit to identify and eliminate endometrial tissue outside the uterus. Hence, the chances of endometriosis increase.

– Surgical Scar Implantation

Endometrial cells may get attached to surgical incisions like hysterectomy or C-section post-surgery.

Factors of Risk

There are many risk factors involved with developing endometriosis. These are:

1. Inability to conceive a child

2. Starting menstrual periods at an early age

3. Delayed menopause

4. Shorter menstrual cycles

5. Higher levels of oestrogen in the body

6. Low BMI (body mass index

7. Excessive consumption of alcohol

8. Previous occurrence of endometriosis in mother, aunt or sister

9. Restriction in the normal passage of menstrual flow out of the body

10. Abnormalities in the uterine

Infertility

The major complication related to endometriosis is lower fertility.

Endometriosis obstructs the fallopian tube and restricts the egg from travelling through it and unite with the sperm. Hence the egg fails to be fertilized by a sperm cell and get attached to the uterine wall to begin development. Thus, it affects the fertility.

However, women suffering from mild to moderate endometriosis are able to conceive and carry on with the gestation. It is mostly advised to women affected by endometriosis not to delay in having children as their condition may worsen with time.

Complications

There are many complications that come with endometriosis. Adhesions in the pelvic organs are one of the common complications that result in decreased function of the organs. Since endometriosis usually blocks the fallopian tubes and hence restricts the eggs to reach the sperm, women suffer from infertility issues.

Women suffering from severe endometriosis have difficulties conceiving even with the help of medical treatments and surgeries. Such women are mostly advised to apply for surrogacy in order to have a baby without difficulty. They can undergo IVF treatment to have an embryo out of their own egg and sperm and have it introduced in a surrogate’s womb to have a successful pregnancy.