Endometriosis Education

Endometriosis affects 10%-20% of women, yet many suffer in silence without answers or treatment for several years. Celebrities, such as Mandy Moore, Tia Mowry-Hardrict, Chrissy Teigen and Amy Schumer, are helping get the word out by giving their voices to this serious condition. March is Endometriosis Awareness Month and a good opportunity to give the disease greater attention.

What Is Endometriosis?

It occurs when endometrial tissue, which normally lines the uterus, forms outside the uterus, such as on the pelvis, ovaries, fallopian tubes, bowel and bladder.

What Are the Symptoms?

While noncancerous, it can cause inflammation that results in painful periods, intercourse, bowel movements or voiding. Symptoms can range from minimal to severely debilitating. The prevalence is higher for women with pelvic pain (up to 70%) or infertility (50%).

Can It Cause Infertility?

Endometriosis can block or scar fallopian tubes, making fertilization more difficult. Additionally, women with endometriosis are more likely to have lower egg counts, and the inflammation may make it difficult to get or stay pregnant.

How Is It Diagnosed?

No lab test, imaging or exam finding can help us definitively diagnose endometriosis. A surgical biopsy is the only way we can say for certain a woman’s symptoms are due to endometriosis.

What Is the Treatment?

Treatment is based on many factors, including a woman’s symptoms, age, medical history and desire to become pregnant. It can vary and includes nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, hormones and surgery to remove the endometriosis or perform a hysterectomy. Endometriosis is responsive to hormones, and most women have limited or no symptoms after menopause. Unfortunately, the hormones may cause chronic inflammation, increasing the risk for peritoneal cancer and heart disease. So, it is important to still get regular preventive care.