If you know anyone with endometriosis you might know that it can cause unpleasant cramping during their menstrual cycle. In fact, some ladies are completely hamstrung by this agony. But what is endometriosis and why do we care?
Endometriosis is when the endometrial lining from the uterus is found growing somewhere else in the body. Regularly it’s found growing on the ovaries or somewhere else in the stomach and the discomfort that women feel is perhaps because these cells are doing their job each month by shedding together with the endometrial lining in the uterus. Fantastic how those funny cells know their job even when they’re in the wrong place!
The other reason we care about endometriosis is that it’s a common finding with girls who are sterile. It’s thought that 5-10% of girls might have endometriosis, but it’s's thought that 20% of women who are not able to conceive have endometriosis.
So how does one know if you have endometriosis – or endo? Some girls might suspect they have endo due to intense cramping during their menstrual cycle. But there are more symptoms, too. Some girls do not have any cramping during their cycle in any way. Some ladies have lower back discomfort. Some girls could have agony during intercourse. Some girls could have agony during stools or urinating. Are you seeing a trend? Naturally, the flip side of the coin is that you might not have any symptoms.
I speak from experience here. I had not one of the classic indications of endo except that I wasn’t able to become pregnant. How is endo diagnosed? A laparoscopy is the only way to actually diagnose endo as it doesn’t show up on any test. A lap is done under general anesthesia with a scope put in thru a tiny incision under your navel. Another incision is formed at your bikini line which allows the doctor to use a tool to move things around if need be. Once the scope is on the doctor can take a look around and if the endo or other scaring is present they can remove it.
Endo is ‘scored’ in stages from 1-4 based totally on the location and a complicated point system. Just so you know, when you wake up in recovery and your doctor gives you this number it will not translate to how much pain you have been in. It’ll just give you an idea of how broad the endometriosis was in your system. That is’s all.
What you’ll actually need to talk to with your health practitioner is how the removal of the endo will affect your fertility. Many ladies find that the next 3 to four cycles after they have recovered are their most cosy and their doctor may need to milk the removal of the endo and push ahead. Continuing with interuterine insemination ( IUI ) is an excellent idea or even moving on to in vitro fertilization ( IVF ) – just depending on what you are most comfortable with – because although the endo has been removed there’s no way to really know how endo is affecting fertility. Doctors all have good guesses but there’s no answer yet. One answer is there though – now the endo is removed you may feel better and now you know one of the likely reasons you weren’t able to get pregnant on your own.
So, let your doctor give you good counsel . Discover what you can about endometriosis as it is possible to Conquer infertility.
Alana Reyer is an infertility expert. For more great information on uterine infertility, visit http://www.infertilityhelp-alana.com/ebook.html.