So, what is endometriosis?
Endometriosis is a condition where the type of tissue that lines the inside of your uterus (endometrium) grows outside of your uterus in your pelvis. It is often painful, as the tissue acts as normal endometrial tissue does – thickening, breaking down, and bleeding with your menstrual cycle.
What are the symptoms?
The most common symptom is pelvic pain, especially with your period. This could start before your period arrives and can last several days throughout your period. It is also common to experience pain during or after sex, or pain with bowel movements or urination (particularly during your period). Periods may also be heavier than normal and you could experience fatigue, diarrhea, constipation, nausea, or bloating. Endometriosis can also make getting pregnant difficult. Seeking treatment for infertility can actually be the way some women figure out that they have endometriosis. Luckily, there is hope for these women as there are treatment options for endometriosis!
How can you treat it?
There are a variety of different treatment options that depend on the severity of the endometriosis. For less severe cases, sometimes painkillers like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil) can help with the pain. Hormone contraceptives or hormone medicines are also used to help control or alter your natural cycle to treat endometriosis as well.
For more severe cases, surgical procedures can be done to try to remove the endometriosis tissue that is causing problems. At OceanMed, we have doctors who can perform this procedure laparoscopically, which is a less invasive procedure that only needs small incisions in your belly. If you are still hoping to become pregnant one day, this procedure can remove the unwanted tissue without affecting your uterus and ovaries to increase your success of having a baby.
What should you do if you think you might have endometriosis?
If you have some of the symptoms listed above and think you may have endometriosis, the best thing to do is to go to your gynecologist. They will be able to talk to you about your symptoms and do an exam to help diagnose you. It can be scary to talk to doctors about these things, but it is important to know that it is a common condition that CAN be treated. Women should not have to go through their life with pain, discomfort, or the inability to get pregnant if they wish to have children.
At OceanMed, our team specializes in these conditions and ways to treat or manage their symptoms. We are here to help and to improve the lives of women suffering from endometriosis so that they can live a more pain-free, full life!
To book an appointment with one of our gynecologists, call us at 946-2326 or email appointments@oceanmed.ky.