What is endometriosis?
The endometrium is a special type of tissue that usually lines the inner walls of a woman ‘s uterus. Sometimes endometrium migrates and becomes implanted in other areas within the pelvis. In women with endometriosis there may be endometrial tissue on the fallopian tubes, the ovaries or anywhere else on the lining of the pelvis- these are all places endometrial tissue is not meant to be.
During a woman ‘s normal menstrual cycle the endometrium within the uterus becomes thickened and prepared for the possibility of conception and pregnancy. This occurs under the influence of hormones in the blood stream. If conception does not occur, the hormone levels decrease and the endometrium comes away from the wall of the uterus and is shed through the vagina – what we know as menstruation or our monthly period.
In women with endometriosis the same process occurs but the extra endometrial tissue in various sites around the pelvis reacts in the same way to hormonal changes in the bloodstream. This means the misplaced endometrium thickens and breaks down as normal but then has nowhere to exit the body and becomes trapped. This can lead to inflammation and pain in the surrounding tissue and, in the long term, can form cysts and scar tissue.
How will I know if I have endometriosis?
Endometriosis can cause severe pain, usually in the pelvic area, and women with this condition usually feel the most pain and discomfort during their monthly period. This pain can be debilitating and is generally more severe than what other women experience as €œperiod pain.â‚
No Comment Received
Leave A Reply