What is endometriosis?

Endometriosis is a painful disorder that causes the tissue that lines your uterus — called the endometrium — to grow not just inside your uterus but also outside your uterus. Most often, these areas include the:

• Ovaries
• Fallopian tubes
• Areas of the pelvis
• Bowels

During your menstrual cycle, the endometrium thickens then comes apart and bleeds. Endometrium that normally grows inside your uterus then exits your body by traveling through the cervix and out through your vagina.

If you have endometriosis, your outer endometrium can’t shed. Instead, it stays where it is, irritating surrounding tissue and triggering inflammation. Given enough time, endometriosis can also cause lesions and scar tissue.

What are the symptoms of endometriosis?

Endometriosis presents different symptoms in women and, occasionally, no symptoms at all. Furthermore, it’s easy to confuse endometriosis symptoms with those of other conditions.

In general, though, the most common endometriosis symptoms include:

• Extreme pain or cramping during periods
• Diarrhea, constipation, painful bowel movements, and painful urination
• Pain during sex 
• Infertility

Endometriosis can also cause heavy bleeding during your period and bleeding in between periods.

How do you diagnose endometriosis?

To get to the bottom of your pain, FemmPro OB/GYN first asks you to describe your symptoms in detail, including the point during your menstrual cycle when they’re most severe.

You can make your initial appointment successful by tracking your symptoms and recording them.

If your FemmPro OB/GYN provider believes you may have endometriosis based on what you’ve described, they run a number of tests, including:

• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• Pelvic exam
• Biopsy
• Ultrasound
• Laparoscopy

To diagnose you, your provider may conduct one or all of these tests.

How do you treat endometriosis?

Currently, there is no cure for endometriosis. So, FemmPro OB/GYN instead focuses on treatment and symptom management. 

To manage your symptoms, the practice may suggest or prescribe a number of different treatments, including the following:

• Over-the-counter pain medication
• Prescription pain medication
• Hormonal therapy (vaginal rings, birth control pills, patches, etc.)

If you don’t respond to more conservative treatments, you may need surgery. During surgery, the practice can either remove your abnormal tissue or perform a hysterectomy, which is a procedure to remove your uterus.

When considering these different options, it’s important to consider whether or not you want to get pregnant in the future. 

Endometriosis is extremely painful and sometimes debilitating. Don’t let it run your life anymore. Instead, take control by making an appointment with FemmPro OB/GYN over the phone or online via ZocDoc today.