Gastrointestinal endometriosis is a common, widespread disease that hides in plain sight. The disease initially presents so minimally and progresses so gradually that it is difficult to diagnose. And once its presence is established, much damage already may have been done.
Definition
With gastrointestinal endometriosis, the female reproductive system biologically malfunctions, whereby particles that are similar to the lining of the womb enter the pelvic cavity. Each month, the actual lining of the womb, or endometrium, prepares for pregnancy and, if that is not achieved, the lining is broken down and the blood is shed, causing a period. These similar particles, however, react exactly like the endometrium, but once they are in the pelvic cavity, they cannot exit. The blood and tissue then cause inflammation. This can happen for months and even years, and the long-term malfunction eventually can affect the reproductive system.
Causes
The causes of endometriosis have not been scientifically determined, but there are several hypotheses. Metaplasia is when one type of normal tissue transforms into another type of normal tissue. One theory is that endometrial tissue changes outside the uterus, and while it is a different type of tissue, it still inherently reacts to the hormones in a manner consistent with true endometrial tissue. Another possible cause is retrograde menstruation. This is when menstrual tissue flows backward and attaches to the pelvic organs. This theory has a major hole, as women who had hysterectomies have still developed endometriosis. There also is a genetic link, whereby the likeliness of first-degree relatives of a woman with endometriosis will been prone to the disease. Another theory is the tissue is distributed by the lymphatic and vascular systems. Immune dysfunction is another plausible explanation. Finally, environmental factors may be the root of this abnormality. There is absolutely no connection to STDs.
Significance
Endometriosis is serious, but not fatal. It affects quality of life and general health. Misdiagnoses are frequent and common, so many women undergo surgeries, take medicine, and go through other treatments without success, often leading to emotional, physical and mental strife. The symptoms mimic diseases such as ovarian cysts, irritable bowel syndrome, colon cancer, appendicitis, fibroid tumors, ovarian cancer, pelvic inflammatory disease and ectopic pregnancy.
Symptoms
There are many possible symptoms of endometriosis, including pain before and during periods, chronic pelvic pain, pain during intercourse, heavy periods, lower back pain, painful bowel movements and urination during menstruation, fatigue, infertility, diarrhea and constipation.
There also are symptoms that are common to other diseases, but may be a sign of endometriosis. These symptoms may be relevant when they present with previously mentioned pelvic symptoms: headache, fever, depression, anxiety, hypoglycemia and low immune function.
About 30 percent of women with endometriosis may have trouble conceiving a child.
Warnings
Gastrointestinal Endometriosis is a tricky disease, as the symptoms can be consistent with not only other diseases, but no disease at all. Pelvic pain and heavy periods can be significant or consistent with the individual. Before self-diagnosing, seek medical advice if you have these symptoms. Laparoscopic surgery is the only way to gain a definitive diagnosis. In severe cases, this surgery can alleviate the symptoms of the disease by removing cysts, lesions and adhesions. There is no treatment that fully cures endometriosis. Your doctor may prescribe combination of painkillers, hormone therapy and nutritional therapy to manage symptoms.
Tags: consistent with, endometrial tissue, endometriosis have, have been, heavy periods, lining womb, normal tissue
