by Jennifer Woods

Created on: April 28, 2008   Last Updated: April 29, 2008

Endometriosis

Endometriosis is one of the most common causes of hip pain, pelvic discomfort, and infertility in women. It is a condition where the endometrial stroma and glands, (usually found in the uterus), are also found elsewhere in the body. Endometriosis can be found almost anywhere in the pelvic region, but it is also found in caesarean section scars, and, in rare cases, inside the vagina, bladder, on the skin, lung, spine, and even brain.

Symptoms
The most common symptom of Endometriosis is pelvic pain, often compared to menstrual pain, although this is not always the case. Symptoms may also include fatigue, heavy or irregular bleeding, abdominal bloating and diarrhoea/constipation (often connected with the menstrual cycle). Another symptom is infertility, and it is estimated that around 30-40% of women with endometriosis are subfertile.

Treatment
As the exact cause of Endometriosis is, as yet, undecided, a definite cure has yet to be found, however there are a range of treatments available to patients with Endometriosis, and a patient can find the treatment best suited for her by talking to her doctor.
As pain is the most common symptom of Endometriosis, there are a range of painkillers available, varying from simple painkillers; such as aspirin and paracetamol, all the way to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as Nurofen, for example.
Most health professionals agree that the production of the female hormone oestrogen aggravates Endometriosis and as a result, hormonal treatments which attempt to control oestrogen production in a woman's body may be used to try to alleviate her symptoms.
The only definite way of diagnosing Endometriosis is through laparoscopic surgery, and in many cases the disease can be treated in the same procedure. The exact outcome of the operation depends on the proficiency of the surgeon, as treatment through surgery involves the removal of Endometriosis lesions, cysts and adhesions.
There are a range of less invasive treatments, such as nutritional therapy, complementary therapies, and a multi-disciplinary approach, although these treatments depend solely on the patient herself, and need to be tailored to her specific needs by her doctor.

Endometriosis and Cancer
Endometriosis and Cancer are not the same thing. Endometriosis cysts may be referred to as a beningn tumours' because they behave in a similar way to cancer tumours, but they are not the same disease. It has been suggested that patients with Endometriosis lead an increased risk of developing cancer, but this is highly controversial and should not be a cause of worry to patients with the disease.

Who Can Help?
Women with Endometriosis, or people who have some of the symptoms and are worried can find additional help and guidance from the Endometriosis Charity homepage : http://www.endometriosis.org, or by talking to their doctor.

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