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Endometriosis
Yet another cause of female infertility.
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Endometriosis |
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Endometriosis, a cause of female infertility, is a condition in
which endometrial tissue, the tissue that lines the inside of the
uterus, grows outside the uterus and attaches to other organs in the
abdominal cavity such as the ovaries and fallopian tubes.
Endometriosis is a progressive disease that tends to get worse over
time and can reoccur after treatment. Symptoms include painful
menstrual periods, abnormal menstrual bleeding and pain during or
after sexual intercourse.
The endometrial tissue outside your uterus responds to your
menstrual cycle hormones the same way the tissue inside your uterus
responds - it swells and thickens, then sheds to mark the beginning
of the next cycle. The blood that is shed from the endometrial
tissue in your abdominal cavity has no place to go, resulting in
pools of blood causing an inflammation that forms scar tissue. The
scar tissue can block the fallopian tubes or interfere with
ovulation. Another result of endometriosis is the formation of
ovarian cysts called endometrioma that may also interfere with
ovulation.
The cause of endometriosis is unknown though there are a few
theories that suggest possible causes. One theory suggests that
during menstruation, some of the menstrual tissue backs up through
the fallopian tubes into the abdomen where it implants and grows.
Another theory indicates that it is a genetic birth abnormality in
which endometrial cells develop outside the uterus during fetal
development.
A laparoscopy, an outpatient surgical procedure, is necessary to
confirm a diagnosis of endometriosis after a medical history review
and pelvic exam. After the initial diagnosis, your physician will
classify your condition as stage 1 (minimal), stage 2 (mild), stage
3 (moderate) or stage 4 (extensive) based on the amount of scarring
and diseased tissue found. Based on the stage of endometriosis, your
physician will determine the best treatment plan for you which may
include medication or surgery, or a combination of both.
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