Everything you need to know about endometriosis
13 April 2022
What is endometriosis?
Endometriosis is when cells similar to the ones in the lining of the womb, or uterus, are found elsewhere in the body.
Not being in the womb does not prevent these cells behaving as if they were – they build up before breaking down and bleeding.
However, unlike the blood created in the womb, which leaves a woman's body as a monthly period, this blood remains in the body, causing inflammation, pain, and the formation of cysts and scar tissue.
As endometriosis often affects the ovaries and fallopian tubes, it can also lead to problems conceiving a child. If it affects the bowels, meanwhile, it can cause problematic bowel movements.
Did you know?
Endometriosis is one of the most common gynaecological conditions in the UK, affecting up to 50% of women with infertility(1).
What are the symptoms of endometriosis?
Common symptoms of endometriosis include:
- Chronic pain;
- Fatigue;
- Depression;
- Pain during sex;
- Infertility.
Not everyone with endometriosis has symptoms, though. Some women live with the condition for years without realising it. Among those with symptoms, the intensity can also vary widely.
Know your numbers
Endometriosis affects as many as one in 10 women of reproductive age, many of whom have no symptoms. In the UK, this equates to around two million women(2).
Types of endometriosis
There are three types of endometriosis, which can occur concurrently in some patients:
- Ovarian endometriosis causes ovarian cysts called endometrioma, which are filled with old blood.
- Deep endometriosis forms lower down the pelvis and can affect structures including the ligaments supporting the womb, as well as the bowel and bladder.
- Superficial peritoneal endometriosis causes flat lesions on the peritoneum, a thin film that cloaks the inner surfaces of the pelvis.
Causes of endometriosis
Nobody is totally sure what causes endometriosis, but there are a number of theories. These include:
- It's linked to genetics because the condition tends to run in families;
- It's caused by retrograde menstruation, which is when some of the womb lining travels up the fallopian tubes and embeds itself in the pelvis;
- It's related to problems with your immune system;
- It's due to endometrium cells spreading through the body in the bloodstream or lymphatic system (also part of the immune system).
Fact or fiction?
Endometriosis is an infection. Fiction: endometriosis is neither an infection nor a form of cancer.
Diagnosis of endometriosis
It can be difficult to diagnose endometriosis because the symptoms vary widely from one person to another and can often be caused by a variety of other conditions.
If you think you might have endometriosis, the first step is to visit your GP, who may want to examine your tummy and/or vagina. To improve your chances of getting the right diagnosis, it is often worth noting down your symptoms - or even keeping a diary of them - prior to your appointment.
If they think further examinations are required, you will then be referred to a gynaecologist, who will probably suggest an ultrasound scan or a laparoscopy - a type of keyhole surgery used to identify and sometimes resolve problems in your abdominal area, which is the only sure way to find out if you have endometriosis or not.
Did you know?
It takes the average woman with endometriosis more than seven years to get a diagnosis(3).
Treatments for endometriosis
There's currently no cure for endometriosis, but there are treatments that can help to ease the symptoms.
These include:
- Painkillers - such as Ibuprofen and Paracetamol;
- Hormone medicines and contraceptives - including the combined pill and gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues;
- Surgery to cut away patches of endometriotic tissue - for example a laparoscopy;
- An operation to remove the organs affected by endometriosis - such as a hysterectomy.
Endometriosis and infertility
One of the main complications linked to endometriosis is that it can make it harder for women to get pregnant.
Surgery to remove endometriotic tissue can help improve your chances of getting pregnant, as well as reducing the severity of any symptoms you are experiencing. However, there's no guarantee that you'll be able to get pregnant after surgery.
Surgery for endometriosis can also sometimes cause further problems, such as infections, bleeding or damage to the affected organs, so make sure you are aware of the risks before deciding whether or not to go ahead.
Sources
About the author
Jessica Bown is a freelance writer and journalist.