What to Expect During Your Hysteroscopy
We need to perform a hysteroscopy to investigate your gynecologic health further, and you aren’t sure what to expect. You may be surprised at how quick and relatively easy this procedure can be.
6 Points We Want Women to Know About Endometriosis
When a condition affects 11% of women of reproductive age (between the ages of 15 and 44), it’s probably a condition all women in that age range should know something about.
Especially if you consider that endometriosis is not only common, but it can also affect your life in some surprising and not-so-surprising ways.
Since March is Endometriosis Awareness Month, the experienced team of all-female women’s healthcare providers at Beyond Women’s Care wants to share some key information about endometriosis. Let’s take a look.
1. Endometriosis — a matter of misplaced tissues
Let’s start with some endometriosis basics. Normally, the lining of your uterus (your endometrium) is made up of endometrial tissue that responds to your menstrual cycles. When you ovulate, these tissues thicken in anticipation of receiving a fertilized egg. When an egg doesn't arrive, these tissues are shed during your period, resetting your endometrium for the next menstrual cycle.
With endometriosis, endometrial tissue grows outside your uterus and typically attaches to neighboring organs and support structures. These misplaced tissues can cause problems because they still react to your menstrual cycles, but have nowhere to shed. Instead, they can grow and become fibrous adhesions that lead to complications.
2. Endometriosis can be difficult to diagnose
Endometrial tissues can attach to a wide range of organs and structures in your pelvic and abdominal cavities, including your:
- Fallopian tubes
- Outer uterus surface
- Ovaries
- Vagina
- Cul-de-sac (a space between your uterus and your rectum)
- Rectum
- Colon and intestines
Given the wide reach, symptoms can range from infertility to gastrointestinal upset, which are vastly different areas of your health. As a result, it can take 4-11 years for endometriosis to be diagnosed correctly.
3. Endometriosis is a leading driver of pelvic pain
One of the biggest signs of endometriosis is pelvic pain, which flares during your periods. When the tissues respond to hormonal fluctuations, they can become inflamed and also cause pelvic-wide inflammation, all of which contribute to your already uncomfortable periods.
4. Endometriosis can impact your sex life
Another common side effect of endometriosis is painful sex, or dyspareunia, which affects at least half of women with the condition. This discomfort is largely attributable to endometrial adhesions in your cul-de-sac that make your vagina less able to expand and move during intercourse.
5. Endometriosis and infertility — a close connection
Endometriosis can have no small impact on fertility — between 30% and 50% of women with endometriosis are infertile. There are many reasons why endometriosis can lead to infertility — for example, endometrial adhesions around the ovaries can affect ovulation, or tissues around your Fallopian tubes can prevent fertilization.
6. There are solutions for endometriosis
We want to end with some more promising news about endometriosis — there are solutions. The treatments for endometriosis range from hormone therapies that stop the growth of endometriosis to laparoscopic surgery to remove problematic adhesions. And we offer these treatments here.
The bottom line is that if you’re dealing with any of the symptoms we describe above, each warrants a visit to see us. Thanks to our experience with this condition, we can connect the dots and get you to a diagnosis — and treatment — as quickly as possible.
For expert diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis, we invite you to call our Rochester Hills, Michigan, office at 248-284-4859 or contact us through our website to schedule an appointment.
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