Endometriosis is a common condition affecting an estimated 5.5 million American women. It occurs most commonly in women of menstruating age who have never been pregnant. Its development is poorly understood, but research shows correlation between it and things like chemical exposure and genetic predisposition.
Archive for the ‘Endometriosis’ Category
Chocolate Cyst: The Endometriosis Cyst
Endometriomas, also known as chocolate cysts, are cysts in the ovaries formed by endometrial tissue. They are usually filled with old, sludgy-brown blood, hence their moniker. These cysts can vary between 0.4 and 4 inches in diameter, and are not necessarily a cause for concern. However, if they rupture, their contents can spill into the ovaries and the pelvic cavity.
Who Is At Risk For Endometriosis?
If you have endometriosis when this happens, the tissue outside the uterus, called implants, breaks down but cannot leave the body. This usually occurs on the fallopian tubes, ovaries, or tissue lining the pelvis. Very rarely does this happen in other parts of the body.
How Can I Prevent a Hysterectomy When I Have Endometriosis?
Up to fifteen percent of all women of childbearing age in the United States struggle with endometriosis. Endometriosis is a gynecological condition in which growths of endometrial tissue, the tissue that normally lines the inside of the uterus, appear in other locations.
Can Endometriosis Grow In The Bowels?
The quick answer is yes, endometriosis can grow in the bowels. This doesn’t happen very often, but certainly is possible.
Adenomyosis & Endometriosis: Is There Any Correlation Between The Two?
There is no scientific evidence proving that the two conditions are related. Although, some speculate that women who have adenomyosis usually have endometriosis. One theory suggests that adenomyosis begins within the uterine walls from endometrial tissue that was stored there.
Is Endometriosis Hereditary?
The short answer to the above question is yes, endometriosis is much more likely to occur if you have a family history in a first degree relative. A first degree relative is someone in your immediate family (your mother or sister).
Painful Sex As A Result Of Endometriosis
The lining of the uterus is called the endometrium. The endometrial cells are very responsive to hormones. During the monthly cycle, rising estrogen levels stimulate the endometrium to thicken. Then, when progesterone levels increase during ovulation, this lining becomes secretory in preparation for the implantation of a fertilized egg.
Why Is It Important To Find Out If I Have Endometriosis?
Endometrial tissues outside of the uterus can cause problems as they bulk up and later shed. Tissue and blood in the uterus can be discarded from the body through the vagina. This isn’t the case for the tissue and blood released by endometrial growths within the body cavity.
Sisters With Endometriosis?
Do you and your sister both have endometriosis? This is more common than you may think. Studies have shown that women with a family history of endometriosis are much more likely to have it themselves. The term family history refers to members of your immediate family, or your mother and sister.
