Endometrosis is a condition in which the inner lining of the uterus (the endometrium) breaks through the muscle wall of the uterus and spreads to other parts of the body.  Symptoms can be menstrual cramps, lower abdominal pressure, irregular menstrual periods, heavy/painful periods, infertility and miscarriage.

The condition range from mild and painless to extremely debilitating.

The only way to officially diagnose this condition is by surgical discovery, as endometrial cells do not show up on ultrasound.

Endometriomas may also develop with this condition. Endometriomas are a type of cyst formed when endometrial tissue grows in the ovaries.

Endometrioma can also be referred to as an endometrioid cysts. These can cause excess bleeding, severe pain and affect fertility.

If you are having painful cycles, consult your gynecologist.

The treatment for endometriosis is typically oral hormone therapy with contraceptive medication (birth control pills).

There are also alternative treatments such as bio-identical hormone therapy-  progesterone cream or Hormone Pellet Therapy.

Ovarian cysts in normal women typically occur and go away on their own, but sometimes in women with endometriosis these cysts become endometriomas which may have to be surgically removed.

Please have regular ultrasounds if you have been diagnosed with endometriosis.

 

Also, please be aware of your hormone levels. Estrogen Dominance is common in women with endometriosis, PCOS and auto-immune disorders.  Your doctor can order a lab called a “female hormone panel.”

Avoid soy products if you are estrogen dominant, as these are phytoestrogens and can cause hormones to be disrupted.

 

This disease affects different women in different ways, but the most consistent symptoms are painful periods, painful intercourse, heavy bleeding,  pelvic pain/tenderness and infertility.

Hormonal disturbances such as hot flashes, breast tenderness and emotional mood swings have also been contraindicated.

If you are struggling, please consult your gynocologist.

 

SOURCES-

Full medical description of Endometriomas

Full medical description of Endometriosis

 

Personal Note-

I suffered from severely painful menstrual cycles since the onset of puberty at 12 years old. I would bleed for weeks at a time, sometimes have cycles that lasted for months. I saw multiple gynecologists throughout my teenage years and suffered through many horrific periods and different birth control pills, patches and hormone adjustments. I finally found a physician willing to listen to me and at 18 years old, I had a diagnostic pelvic D & C  because the doctor was sure I had endometriosis. His diagnosis was confirmed and I had stage 4 endometrosis removed. I was put on hormone therapy after that, but it caused my migraines to increase and I could not stay on them. I went unmedicated for years and the endometriosis returned with a vengeance. At 22 years old, I started having absolutely debilitating pelvic pain. I went to the emergency room and discovered I had a cyst on my left ovary. They told me it would go away. In normal women it does…..mine did not.

I suffered with it for a year. Just accepted it was a part of life and lived off of advil. I had kidney stones too, so I was used to being in pain.  My health was declining anyhow at the time. (I had undiagnosed adrenal failure)

I went on a trip to Myrtle beach, SC and spend the entire day in the ocean. Later that night, I had a sudden, sharp pain that was horrific. I knew something was wrong. I called my GYN and as soon as I got home had an ultrasound. The ultrasound showed I had a large endometrioma.  When my GYN got the ultrasound result, he told me my ovary was damaged and needed to be removed.

I ended up having that surgery and got an IUD to prevent the endometriosis from returning.

Fast forward 3 years, I’ve had 2 more surgeries since then and am scheduled to have a hysterectomy this coming week. I have aggressive endometriosis. I have had so many endometriomas that just won’t seem to stay away. I am also estrogen dominant.  My grandmother passed away from endometrial cancer.  Every single one of my dad’s sisters have had to have a hysterectomy before age 30. It runs strong in my genetics.  It is tragic? Yeah. I wanted to be a mother, but the risk of cancer and the pain is just too high.

My message is this-

GET REGULAR ULTRASOUNDS!  DON”T IGNORE YOUR PAIN.

If your periods are lasting longer than 7 days, something is WRONG.

Keep an eye on your iron levels.

See your GYN.

 

Wishing you all hope and healing

Love, Win <3

This post is not intended to diagnose or treat any medical condition. Consult your health care provider before starting or stopping any medical treatment.

I am NOT a doctor, nor do I claim to be. I am simply a woman who has done much research to understand disease and seeks to help others understand as well.

Click to read more from  Winslow E. Dixon