What is endometriosis?
Endometriosis is an inflammatory disease that affects about 10% of women of reproductive age. In endometriosis, tissue similar to the uterine lining (endometrium) grows abnormally outside the uterus. Endometriosis most commonly causes pain, the localization of which depends significantly on where the endometriosis lesions are located.
Endometriosis occurs in different forms. Endometriosis localized in the ovaries is often called endometrioma or chocolate cyst. Deep endometriosis can be located in the uterine fibroids, in the bladder or bowel wall, while superficial endometriosis occurs as small foci on the peritoneum in the pelvis. In addition, adenomyosis, in which endometriosis tissue grows inside the uterine wall (sometimes called uterine endometriosis), is often classified as a form of endometriosis.
Symptoms of endometriosis
The most common symptom of endometriosis is severe and long-lasting menstrual pain, which often begins already before the menstrual bleeding. Other symptoms may include pain during intercourse and pain during urination or defecation, which often vary at different stages of the menstrual cycle. Some patients may suffer from chronic, vague lower abdominal pain. However, endometriosis can also be almost asymptomatic and discovered by chance, for example, during infertility tests.
Endometriosis and infertility
Endometriosis can make it difficult to get pregnant, but not all endometriosis patients suffer from infertility. It is important to note that drug treatments for endometriosis effectively prevent pregnancy, so the treatment plan should be made individually not only to reach pregnancy but also to consider the treatment after pregnancy.
In mild forms of the disease, it is possible to follow whether pregnancy begins spontaneously after discontinuing hormone therapy. The symptoms of endometriosis may worsen rapidly after stopping medication, in this case it is worth discussing the situation and pregnancy prognosis with an infertility doctor. In more severe cases, IVF may be necessary soon after demanding surgery for endometriosis. Treatment plans and implementation should be carefully planned and implemented in collaboration with the treating physician /surgeon.
Endometriosis treatment
Modern endometriosis treatment is mainly based on hormonal treatments, which can relieve symptoms and reduce the risk of recurrence of the disease. Surgical treatment is used when hormone treatment does not provide sufficient relief of the pain symptoms. After surgery, continuing hormone treatment is typically recommended to control symptoms.
During pregnancy, endometriosis patients usually feel well, but after childbirth it is a good idea to make a plan for restarting hormone treatment. Hormone treatment should be started no later than after breastfeeding ends, so that symptoms remain under control.
More information and support
More information about endometriosis, its treatment and peer support can be found on the website of the gynaecological patient organisation Korento.
