What You Need to Know About Endometriosis...
- Nafiye Yılmaz
- 17 hours ago
- 3 min read
What is Endometriosis? What are the Symptoms and Why Does It Cause Pain?
In this video, we discuss endometriosis, a chronic condition characterized by pain and inflammation that significantly reduces a woman's quality of life.
Key Highlights:
What is Endometriosis? It is a condition where the endometrial tissue—which normally sheds with blood during each menstrual cycle—grows outside the uterus, such as on the fallopian tubes, ovaries, pelvic lining, bowels, or bladder.
Why Does It Cause Severe Pain? These extrauterine implants are hormone-sensitive just like the lining of the uterus and cause bleeding inside the abdomen during each menstrual cycle. This leads to adhesions (tissue binding), increased inflammation, and a disruption in the local immune balance, resulting in severe pain.
Which Menstrual Pain is Not Normal? Not all menstrual pain should be considered normal. Persistent, resistant pain that responds poorly to painkillers, causes loss of productivity, and is severe enough to confine a person to bed—even during adolescence—warrants an evaluation for endometriosis.
How Does the Disease Progress? Driven by hormonal imbalances between estrogen and progesterone, this chronic condition tends to progress when the hormonal system is not suppressed by pregnancy, or due to factors like early onset of menstruation, late menopause, and frequent or heavy bleeding.
How is Endometriosis Diagnosed? Treatment Options and Egg Freezing
In this video, we cover accurate diagnostic methods for endometriosis (chocolate cysts), fertility preservation measures, and current treatment strategies in full detail.
Key Highlights:
Diagnostic Methods: For sexually active women, the crucial first step is a pelvic exam. The most valuable follow-up tool is ultrasound, particularly 3D ultrasound, which allows us to visualize deep nodules and fluid buildup (blockages) in the tubes. For unmarried patients where vaginal ultrasound cannot be utilized, radiological methods like MRI are implemented.
Fertility Preservation (Egg and Embryo Freezing): Providing pre-surgical counseling is vital for patients who have not completed their family planning. Prior to surgeries involving the ovaries, egg freezing for unmarried patients and embryo freezing for married couples must be evaluated.
Medical Treatments: One of the initial steps in management is suppressing the rhythmic menstrual cycle to prevent pain flare-ups. To achieve this, simple painkillers, birth control pills, progestin-only intrauterine systems (coils/hormonal IUDs), arm implants, or monthly/3-month injections are utilized.
Surgical Treatment and Multidisciplinary Approach: When medical treatment fails, surgical options (laparoscopy, robotic surgery, or open surgery if mandatory) are pursued. Because endometriosis can involve the bowels, bladder, or nerve pathways, it must be managed by a multidisciplinary team including general surgery, urology, radiology, and even physical therapy for pain radiating to the legs.
In this video, we thoroughly examine the second major impact of endometriosis on a woman's life: fertility, infertility, and uterine muscle involvement (adenomyosis).
Key Highlights:
The Silent Effect on Tubes and Ovaries: As endometriosis lesions bleed and heal during each cycle, they can cause adhesions and blockages in the fallopian tubes. Chocolate cysts forming on the ovaries and inflammatory markers accumulating in the microenvironment can negatively impact both ovarian reserve and egg quality.
Fertilization Issues: The disease can disrupt the interaction between the fallopian tubes and the ovaries. Even if the tubes are open, it can hinder the sperm's journey through the tube to reach the egg, creating fertilization hurdles.
What is Adenomyosis? The form of the disease that implants within the muscle wall of the uterus is called adenomyosis. Commonly seen in women aged 20–40, this condition can cause heavy menstrual bleeding, painful periods, painful intercourse, and pregnancy losses (early miscarriages).
Is Every Endometriosis Patient Infertile? No, having endometriosis does not automatically mean a patient is infertile. The severity of the disease, its location, and the extent of tissue damage vary from person to person. If the pelvic anatomy is preserved, the ovarian reserve is normal, and no other factors are present, patients can conceive naturally. 🌺🌸
pebek
Thank you... There is always hope.
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