Endometriosis

by Debra Wood, RN

Definition

Normally, endometrial tissue is found only inside the uterus. The uterus is the reproductive organ where a fetus develops. Hormones cause the tissue to form there, preparing the body for a fertilized egg. If you do not become pregnant, the tissue leaves the body during menstruation.

In endometriosis, endometrial-like tissue is found outside the uterus. For example, it may be found on organs in the abdomen or pelvis. In these places, the tissue still responds to hormones. It swells, breaks down, and bleeds. But it is unable to leave when you menstruate. Surrounding tissue becomes inflamed. There is often scarring.

Endometriosis

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Lesions were created by swelling and breakdown of endometrial tissue outside the uterus.
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Causes

Possible causes include:

  • Menstrual tissue backs up through the fallopian tubes and spills into the abdomen
  • Immune system may allow the tissue to implant on other organ surfaces and develop into endometriosis
  • Lymph system may carry endometrial cells from the uterus
  • Certain cells on abdominal organs turn into endometrial tissue

Hormones and growth factors cause the disease to progress.

Risk Factors    TOP

A risk factor is something that increases your chance of developing this condition. The following may be associated with endometriosis:

  • Family history (a mother or sister with endometriosis)
  • Early onset of menstruation
  • Not having children—Pregnancy slows or stops the disease from progressing. The condition usually resolves at menopause. The symptoms may return with hormone replacement therapy.
  • Prolonged menstrual bleeding (more than 7-8 days)
  • Abnormal development of the uterus, with a blocked segment

Symptoms    TOP

Symptoms range from mild to severe. You may have many large growths with little pain. Or, you may have small areas with intense pain.

Symptoms include:

  • Cramping and pelvic pain (especially just before and during menstrual bleeding)
  • Pain during sex (dyspareunia)
  • Heavy periods
  • Low back pain
  • Pain during bowel movements or urination
  • Infertility
  • Miscarriage

Diagnosis    TOP

Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history. A pelvic exam will be done. These are best done early in the menstrual period. Since you may not have any symptoms, diagnosis is usually confirmed with a laparoscopy. This test allows the doctor to see if there are patches of endometrial tissue and scar tissue.

Treatment    TOP

The goals of treatment are to:

  • Control pain
  • Slow endometrial growth
  • Restore or preserve fertility

Treatment options depend on:

  • Severity of symptoms
  • Size, number, and location of growths
  • Degree of scarring
  • Extent of the disease
  • Age and whether you want to have a baby

Treatment includes:

Pain Medication

Your doctor may recommend:

  • Over-the-counter pain relievers to ease mild symptoms
  • Prescription pain relievers (often needed)
  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce inflammation and help with cramping (best when taken on a regular basis)

Hormonal Therapy

Hormones are an option for women who are not trying to become pregnant. Birth control pills and other injectable drugs interfere with estrogen production. These medicines may decrease pain and shrink the size and number of endometrial growths. But, endometrial growth tends to come back when the hormones are stopped. A common way to take birth control pills is continuously, so that you no longer menstruate. After surgery, birth control pills may reduce the chance of these growths returning.

Surgery

If you have severe symptoms or you want to get pregnant, doctors can try to remove endometrial growths. This is often done with laparoscopic surgery. In severe, unmanageable cases it may be advised to also remove the uterus and ovaries. But this means that you cannot get pregnant.

If you are diagnosed with endometriosis, follow your doctor's instructions.

Prevention    TOP

There is no known way to prevent this condition.

RESOURCES:

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
http://www.acog.org
Endometriosis Association
http://www.endometriosisassn.org

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada
http://www.sogc.org/index_e.asp
Women's Health Matters
http://www.womenshealthmatters.ca

References:

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. The Management of Endometriosis. Practice bulletin No. 114; July 2010.
Dambro MR. Griffith's 5-Minute Clinical Consult. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 1999.
Endometriosis. The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development website. Available at: http://www.nichd.n.... Updated February 2006. Accessed June 17, 2008.
Endometriosis: what you should know. American Academy of Family Physicians website. Available at: http://www.aafp.org/afp/2006/0815/p601.html. Published August 2006. Accessed June 17, 2008.
Rakel RE, Bope ET. Conn's Current Therapy 2001. 53rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders Company; 2001.
Ryan K, Berkowitz R, Barbieri R, et al. Kistner's Gynecology and Women's Health. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Mosby-Year Book; 1999.
3/12/2010 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance https://dynamed.ebscohost.com/about/about-us: Seracchioli R, Mabrouk M, Frascà C, et al. Long-term cyclic and continuous oral contraceptive therapy and endometrioma recurrence: a randomized controlled trial. Fertil Steril. 2010;93(1):52-56.
Last reviewed September 2012 by Andrea Chisholm
Last Updated: 09/10/2012