| Frequently Asked Questions |
|
1. What's the difference between having heavy periods and endometriosis? 1. What's the difference between having heavy periods and endometriosis?Some women have heavier or more painful periods than others, however this does not mean they all have endometriosis. Endometriosis occurs when the tissue normally lining the uterus (the endometrium) is found outside the uterus. The misplaced tissue commonly grows on the fallopian tubes, the ovaries or the tissue lining the pelvis. Over time, it can develop into cysts or become sticky, causing the surrounding tissues and organs to stick together and scar. 2. How do I know if I have endometriosis?Symptoms include:
Having to take time of school or work is a good indicator of the severity of the symptoms. Endometriosis can only be diagnosed accurately by a laparoscopy. This is an operation performed under general anaesthetic, where a small telescope is inserted into the abdomen through a cut in the belly button. Sometimes an ultrasound can also show signs of endometriosis, but only if the endometriosis forms a cyst in the ovary. 3. What causes endometriosis? Is it hereditary?We don't know what causes women to develop endometriosis. There are some examples of families where different generations of women are affected, so a genetic or hereditary factor may be involved. 4. How do I cope with a disease that has no cure?The following emotional effects can all impact on your quality of life:
5. I have been diagnosed with endometriosis. What are my chances of getting pregnant?30 per cent of women with infertility have endometriosis. Currently, the most effective treatment is surgical removal of tissue, usually by laparoscopy. The chances of pregnancy seem to be best immediately following surgery. On a positive note, many women report that their endometriosis is temporarily ‘cured' when they become pregnant (because they are no longer having their period). 6. Will pregnancy cure endometriosis?Endometriosis is often cured by pregnancy and in some women the endometriosis may recur later. 7. Will endometriosis affect my pregnancy or delivery in any way?Endometriosis is diagnosed in a third of women presenting for investigation of infertility. Severe endometriosis can interfere with getting pregnant but in mild cases the reasons for difficulty falling pregnant are uncertain. Endometriosis does not appear to affect pregnancy and delivery. 8. Can endometriosis lead to cancer?Very rarely, cancer has been diagnosed in endometriosis tissue. It is recommended if a woman is diagnosed with an endometrioma or chocolate cyst in an ovary on ultrasound and there has been no histological diagnosis (what the cells look like under a microscope) of endometriosis, that the cyst be removed so that a histological diagnosis can be made. 9. How does endometriosis affect the bowel?Endometriosis can rarely develop on the outside of the bowel and may, in time, infiltrate or develop into the bowel, causing pain, bleeding and, if in the lower pelvis near the uterus, dyspareunia (pain with intercourse). 10. Will my endometriosis go away after menopause?Usually endometriosis does resolve after menopause, however rarely it may recur on hormone replacement therapy (HRT), or even more rarely spontaneously. 11. Do women with endometriosis experience menopause any differently?If menopause occurs naturally at the expected age, the experience is not different from other women without endometriosis. Menopause experience is individual and ranges from no symptoms to severe symptoms. If a woman has had a surgical menopause i.e. her ovaries have been removed with or without her uterus, then severe symptoms will be experienced unless HRT is commenced soon after surgery. 12. If my symptoms aren't affecting my quality of life, is surgery necessary?If you already have a definitive diagnosis of endometriosis and your symptoms are not affecting your life or you are managing them effectively, surgery may not be necessary. 13. I am only 19 years old, is it wise for me to start having surgeries at such a young age?If you have severe pain and your life is impaired, endometriosis or the reason for the pain needs to be diagnosed initially and laparoscopy is the only way to make this diagnosis. Once the diagnosis is made, further surgery may not be necessary as the symptoms may be able to be controlled by medications such as the combined oral contraceptive pill. Discuss all your symptoms with your GP and ask to be referred to a gynaecologist with a special interest in endometriosis. You may like to see a counsellor or psychologist to discuss your feelings and deal with emotional issues. Content Updated June 21, 2010 |