Endometriosis
What is endometriosis?
Endometriosis is a condition that affects 10% of women, with the main symptoms being: :
- Pain during menstruation
- Pain during sexual intercourse
- Pain when having a bowel movement or urinating
These pains are mainly located in the lower abdomen but can be present anywhere in the abdomen, and in rare cases, can extend to the shoulders and lower limbs.
Is it normal to feel pain?
Feeling pain is not normal. When pain becomes disabling, or requires taking painkillers, it is important to visit your gynecologist for a possible diagnosis of endometriosis.
How is the diagnosis made?
1) The anamnesis
When questioning the patient, if the patient complains of intense pain during menstruation, which prevents her from leading a normal life, and leads her to take large amounts of painkillers, etc.
2) Clinical examination
A vaginal examination allows the diagnosis of deep endometriosis, which presents as nodules that can be felt at the back of the vagina.
3) Endovaginal ultrasound
An endovaginal ultrasound will help to identify nodules or cysts in the ovaries.
4) MRI
A lower abdomen MRI is an examination that allows the identification of endometriosis lesions through imaging.
How is the treatment carried out?
The first step is to start with oral contraceptives that may stop, or not, menstruation in order to relieve the patient. If endometriosis is more severe, with the presence of cysts or relatively large nodules, surgery is immediately suggested. This is typically laparoscopic laser surgery. It is also suggested that patients improve their lifestyle by encouraging physical activity and proper nutrition in collaboration with nutritionists.
Is endometriosis dangerous?
Endometriosis is potentially dangerous. The nodules present between the uterus and bladder, or between the uterus and rectum, can become so large that they block the small tubes that pass between the kidneys and the bladder, known as the ureters, which can become stenosed or blocked by endometriosis. This can result in a "silent kidney," meaning the kidney’s excretory channel, the ureter, has been blocked by the endometriosis. Furthermore, endometriosis can cause digestive lesions or, in very rare cases, may become cancerous in older individuals.
What are the impacts of endometriosis during pregnancy??
Once the patient is pregnant, endometriosis will not cause problems. It may cause some pain during pregnancy, but the baby will not be affected and will be able to grow normally. The main issue with endometriosis occurs before pregnancy. Before becoming pregnant, patients who suffer from endometriosis may have reduced fertility due to the presence of endometriosis if it is not well treated.
