Endometriosis Blog » Endometriosis Facts

Diagnosing Endometriosis

Chas — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 15:39:17 +0000

Trying to diagnose endometriosis through the symptoms that women are able to experience is not sufficient enough information for the doctor. This is because many women who have this condition sometimes do not suffer through any symptoms at all. Instead they need more substantial evidence and findings to make sure that what they woman might be experiencing and having problems with is linked to this condition.

Examination

A physical examination will help the doctor in making this diagnosis or trying to determine if it is something else that might be causing pelvic pain. Although it is not the most accurate it will assist the doctor in ruling any other conditions out. It is possible that the doctor will be able to feel tender spots caused by endometriosis or the enlarged ovary – but this is difficult.

Laparoscopy

This is considered to be one of the only conclusive methods that will help to diagnose endometriosis. During this operation the surgeon will make a small incision in the abdomen and stick a small and thin laparoscope. They will use this instrument to see into the stomach at the organs and to search for endometrial implants and scar tissue.

During the procedure the patient will be under local anesthesia and will be conscious of what is going on. When the surgeon finds the implants they will be able to cut them out or destroy it using laser or electrical energy. However, they will keep a small part of it to study under the microscope and perform a biopsy.

Other Techniques

Research is being conducted to find newer and more effective methods that will help to diagnose endometriosis. They are trying to create a blood test that will help to not only diagnose the problem – but also determine what stage the woman is in. but for now the doctors can rely on a CT or MRI scan. This will help them to find any endometriosis cysts that may be in the ovaries.

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Endometriosis Cysts

Chas — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 21:39:57 +0000

Ovarian cysts are sac that are filled with fluid that are located on or inside of an ovary. There are many women who will develop these around the reproductive years and it is likely that women will have at least one during her lifetime. These cysts are considered to be harmless the majority of the time even though they can cause a lot of discomfort. However, in certain women they can pose a problem and can be life threatening if they rupture.

What makes these so dangerous is that most women do not experience any symptoms cause by them. But when they do these symptoms will be similar to those felt when a woman has ovarian cancer, endometriosis, ectopic pregnancy, and appendicitis. There are three types of ovarian cysts which include; functional ovarian cysts, luteal ovarian cysts, and endometrioma cysts.

Symptoms of Endometriosis Cysts

Pelvic pain
Nausea
Vomiting
Menstrual problems
Breast tenderness
Pressure on bladder
Pressure on rectum

How Endometriosis Causes Cysts

It is possible that women who suffer from endometriosis will suffer from some of the more severe types of endometrioma ovarian cysts. These are filled with a thick, dark, chocolate colored substance and can be anywhere between 0.4 inches to 4 inches. Over half of women who are diagnosed with endometriosis will have small cysts that will form on the surface of the ovaries.

Over time they will multiply due to the hormone stimulation that occurs during the menstrual cycle. In some women these will rupture causing severe pelvic pain. These can be dangerous so you must speak with your doctor if you feel that you might have one or more cysts or are at risk for them.

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Endometriosis And Cancer

Chas — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 15:39:05 +0000

Endometriosis is known to affect about one out of seven women all around the world. Despite how common it is there are still so many women in the world who do not know much about it. They do not understand the pain that is involved when endometrial implants attach themselves to their pelvic, ovaries, and other organs in their body.

The damage that is inflicted upon these women who suffer from this disease is very real and many researchers believe that it can lead to cancer. In fact many health experts believe that endometriosis is a type of cancer because of how it attacks the body. Just like cancer – it produces cells that are hard to restrain and invade certain areas of the body.

Another similarity that they share is their ability to produce new blood vessels and the diminished amount of cells that are able to undergo apoptosis. The question of whether or not endometriosis is a type of cancer or is able to cause certain types of cancers is something that has been talked about for more than twenty years. The only big difference that exists between the two conditions is that cancer is known to kill while endometriosis only causes extreme pain.

However, more recent studies have uncovered the connection that stand between endometriosis and cancer. Though they may not be one in the same they discovered that women who have this condition are more vulnerable to endocrine, ovarian, brand, and breast cancer. It is believed that the risk for cancer in women with endometriosis is much higher than in women who do not have it.

Although a woman with endometriosis may never suffer from cancer it would still be helpful to undergo regular screenings. This will help to make sure that there is no cancer in their body and if there is they will be able to catch and treat it early.

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Endometriosis Laparoscopy

Chas — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 15:38:34 +0000

Laparoscopy is the best and most common surgical procedure that is used to treat and diagnose endometriosis. It is used for women who have the mild to moderate cases of it to avoid have to make a large incision in the abdomen. Instead the surgeon will insert a viewing instrument – called the laparoscope – through a much smaller incision.

Most surgeons will choose this procedure so that they are able to have a better look at the organs inside to see how far the endometriosis has spread and what areas it is effecting. This is the only method that can be used to officially diagnose endometriosis. It is possible for some of the implants that the doctor is trying to find to be so tiny that they are hidden from the surgeon.

Through this procedure the surgeon will also be able to remove the implants and scar tissue that is causing the woman pain and also infertility problems. In many woman there might also be a cyst that will be growing on the ovary – called the endometrioma. The surgeon will try to remove it.

What To Expect

Before you are able to have this procedure the surgeon will need you to do a few things while you are at home. You are not allowed to eat or drink anything eight hours or more before the endometriosis laparoscopy. They will be using a general anesthesia – which allows you to stay awake depending on what type they give you. The surgeon or your gynecologist will perform the procedure.

They will first inflate your stomach with carbon dioxide or nitrous oxide gas using a needle. This will keep the wall of the abdomen away from your organs to provide them with better access and a much better view. They will then insert the laparoscope through a small incision and check out the organs inside. They may need to make more incisions in order to remove anything.

To remove scar tissue the surgeon will either cut it out or use a laser beam or electric current to destroy it. The whole procedure will take between 30 to 45 minutes. When they are finished the surgeon will close the incision with stitches – which will leave very little scarring.

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Endometriosis And Fertility

Chas — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 15:37:56 +0000

Endometriosis is a problem that hundreds of women are forced to deal with. This medical problem causes extreme pain that can be hard for them to handle – but it is known to be linked to other problems. The one thing that most women worry about the most when they are diagnosed with endometriosis is whether or not they will be able to get pregnant.

It is a known fact that this health condition makes it difficult for a woman to become pregnant. Although the research is not conclusive and it is not known whether or not this is true for all woman with this problem. Those who are able to become pregnant will still take longer then what is normal because of all the problems that are associated with this condition.

Before you begin to worry too much about the prospect of whether or not you will or will not have children you should speak with your doctor. Sit down and discuss with them the possibilities of what endometriosis can do to your body and how long and hard the process can be. But also know that there are some woman who have successfully gotten pregnant and carried their baby with no problems.

Causes of Endometriosis

Though much research has been done many doctors are at a loss to understand fully why fertility is so hard for women who suffer from endometriosis. Through their research they learned that only women who suffer from the more severe case of it will have so much damage inflicted on their organs that it makes it nearly impossible for the woman to become pregnant.

This could be caused by thick adhesions that are covering the ovaries – making it difficult for the egg to become fertilized.
It could be caused when the fallopian or ovaries are stuck be adhesions in the wrong place.
It could be caused by the egg that was just released – but is not able to reach the fallopian tube.
Adhesions on the pelvic make it impossible for the egg to travel to the fallopian tube
The chemicals produced by the condition make it impossible for the egg to reach the fallopian tube.
There is inflammation in the pelvis caused by endometriosis – which produces cells that will attack sperm.

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