What Is Endometriosis? What Causes Endometriosis?

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Main Category: Women's Health / Gynecology
Article Date: 07 May 2009 - 4:00 PDT

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The word endometriosis comes from the Greek endon meaning "within" and the Greek metra meaning "uterus", akin to Greek meter meaning "mother". The word osis comes from the Greek and/or Latin suffix meanings "affected with, condition, abnormal process". The Medilexicon medical dictionary says endometriosis is "Ectopic occurrence of endometrial tissue, frequently forming cysts containing altered blood." (ectopic = not in its proper place, not in its proper position).

Endometriosis is a condition in which cells that are normally found inside the uterus (endometrial cells) are found growing outside of the uterus. That is, the lining of the inside of the uterus is found outside of it. Endometrial cells are the cells that shed every month during menstruation, and so endometriosis is most likely to affect women during their childbearing years. The cellular growth is not cancerous, but benign. Though there are not always symptoms, it can be painful and lead to other problems. The lining of the uterus consists of a type of tissue called endometrium - composed of endometrial cells - that thickens each month to prepare for an egg. It is here where an egg cell implants and grows if it is fertilized. If an egg is not fertilized, the endometrium breaks down and exits the body during the menstrual period.

Endometrial cells that grow outside of the uterus - usually on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, outer wall of the uterus, or intestines - are called implants. However, these implants follow the same pattern as the endometrium lining the uterus of getting thicker, breaking down, and bleeding. Problems occur because these growths are outside of the uterus, and the blood cannot flow out of the body. This can lead to the formation of scar tissue and cysts as well as difficulties getting pregnant.

Who is at risk of endometriosis?

It is estimated that endometriosis affects over one million women in the United States, and most cases are diagnosed in women between 25 and 35 years of age. However, because many women have no symptoms, the exact prevalence is unknown. The condition is very rare in postmenopausal women. Other risk factors for endometriosis include being white (compared to African American and Asian), being tall and thin with a low body mass index, being infertile, and delaying pregnancy until older ages.

What causes endometriosis?

We do not know the exact causes of endometriosis, but there are several theories. Researchers do know that the hormone estrogen, which is at its highest levels during childbearing years, is likely to contribute to endometriosis. Other possible causes of endometriosis include:

What are the symptoms of endometriosis?

Although most women with endometriosis do not have symptoms and symptoms vary from woman to woman, the following symptoms have been known to occur:

How is endometriosis diagnosed?

In order to diagnose endometriosis, a physician will investigate family medical history, symptoms, menstruation activities, and the patient's current state of health. It is also common for doctors to conduct a pelvic exam, which may include an analysis of the vagina and rectum (rectovaginal exam). One diagnostic strategy is to prescribe treatment for endometriosis and see what happens; an improvement after medication usually indicates that the problem was endometriosis.

Imaging tests, such as ultrasounds, magnetic resonance image (MRI) tests, and CT scans also may be employed to look for ovarian cysts. However, the only way to be sure that a patient has endometriosis is through laparoscopy - a thin, lighted tube with a camera on one end that is surgically inserted into the abdomen to look for implants, scar tissue, or cysts. If laparoscopy is unavailable, it may be necessary to conduct a larger-incision laparotomy. Either of these surgical methods can also provide tissue samples with which to conduct biopsies, which are also important for ruling out diseases such as ovarian cancer.

How is endometriosis treated?

Although there is no cure for endometriosis, there are some good treatments. Treatment options depend on the goal of the patient and can differ if the woman wants to get pregnant or is focused on treating pain. The two most common general classes of treatment are medicines and surgery.

Medicine treatments for endometriosis are summarized below: Surgery for endometriosis is usually not recommended for women who are approaching menopause because endometriosis problems tend to cease after one stops having periods. However, sometimes surgery is a viable option, especially if the endometriosis is not responding to medicine treatment or there is obstruction of urinary or bowel organs.

Surgical treatments are summarized below. Surgical treatments have been very effective in reducing pain, but the endometriosis recurrence rate is thought to be as high as 40%.

How can endometriosis be prevented?

There are no known methods for preventing endometriosis, and it is not a disease that can be contracted or caused by anyone or anything known to the patient.

Video: Understanding Endometriosis - Illumistream Health

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Written by Peter Crosta M.A.
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

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