Posted on March 12, 2010.
Endometriosis Over five and a half million women in North America have endometriosis (abnormal growth of endometrial cells), making it one of the most common diseases of women.
Pain and infertility are the two most common symptoms of the disease. The quality of life can be affected by pain, which may occur before / during / after intercourse, in association with menstruation, during urination or defecation.
Some of the other symptoms often include miscarriages, intestinal disorders, fatigue and PMS. It is possible to have endometriosis, and never feel pain, in this case a woman does not even know it until it is diagnosed when the inability to become pregnant led her to a doctor .
Medical experts disagree about the exact cause of endometriosis. There are a number of theories that attempt to describe the causes of the disease.
A major theory on the cause of endometriosis involves the genetic structure. The disease may be hereditary or result from genetic errors, which makes some women more likely than others to develop the condition. If scientists can find a specific gene or genes related to endometriosis in some women, genetic testing might allow health care providers to detect endometriosis much earlier, or even prevent it from happening at all .
There are other possible causes, as well. Estrogen, a hormone involved in the reproductive cycle of women, seems to advance the growth of endometriosis. Research is currently looking into endometriosis is a disease of the endocrine system (the body of glands, hormones and other secretions).
However, it is possible that the immune system of a woman does not remove fluid in the pelvic cavity properly, or chemicals made by areas of endometriosis may irritate or promote the growth of more than endometriosis. Which leads to the study of the role of the immune system startup or growth endometriosis.
There is much research that focuses on identifying environmental agents, such as exposure to synthetic chemicals, cause the disease. Another important area of research is the search for endometriosis markers. These markers are substances made by or in response to endometriosis that health care providers could be measured in blood or urine. If the markers are found, scientists were able to diagnose endometriosis by testing body fluids of a woman, which reduces the need for surgery to confirm the disease.
Currently, physicians have several tests available for diagnosis of endometriosis. Imaging tests produce an "image" of the body, allowing them to locate areas of endometriosis. Two ultrasonic imaging tests are important (using sound waves) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (using magnets and radio waves to the photo). Laparoscopy is usually performed to verify the presence of endometriosis.
Probably the most common symptom is pain of endometriosis, especially in the abdomen, lower back and pelvic areas. The amount of pain is not how it is actually endometriosis. Some women have no pain, even though their endometriosis is extensive, which means that the areas affected are large or there are scars. However, some women have severe pain, even if only a few small areas endometriosis.
There a number of treatments for pain associated with endometriosis. treatment of pain include:
· Pain medication - if the pain is mild, medicines can be effective. The drug may eventually be a counter remedy, but strong prescription drugs to manage pain are also available.
· The hormone - hormones can be delivered as a pill, injection or nasal spray. hormone commonly used to treat endometriosis include progesterone and progesterone, GnRH (gonadatropin-releasing hormone) birth control.