Your uterus or womb is a muscular organ that is central to menstruation, pregnancy, and your overall reproductive health. It expands and contracts to accommodate a growing fetus, growing from the size of a grapefruit to that of a watermelon during gestation.
Endometriosis is a uterine condition that affects as many as 160 million women, and during Endometriosis Awareness Month (which started in 1993) we want to make more women aware of the effect it can have on your health. There are several ways to treat it, but when is a minimally invasive surgery the best way to go?
For treating endometriosis and other reproductive conditions in the Las Vegas, Nevada area, Dr. Staci McHale and her staff at WHASN Sunset Valley are here to help.
Your uterus has a lining called the endometrium, which is where an egg from your ovaries will be implanted after it’s fertilized by sperm. Endometriosis is when that tissue grows in areas outside of this organ.
It can grow on other reproductive organs or even other nearby tissue, such as your ovaries, peritoneum, fallopian tubes, vagina, bladder, diaphragm, intestines, and rectum, though it’s far less likely outside of your reproductive system.
This illness is common enough that 1 out of 10 women between ages 20-30 are likely to be diagnosed with it.
The cause of endometriosis isn’t well understood, but there are several theories, such as it happening during retrograde menstruation. This is the term for your menstrual blood flowing back through your fallopian tubes into your pelvic cavity instead of leaving the body during your monthly cycle. Another possible cause is the transformation of cells outside your uterus by your hormones.
If you have this illness, common symptoms include pelvic pain, heavy menstrual bleeding between periods, painful sex, uncomfortable bowel movements, lower back pain, infertility, and cramps up to two weeks around your period.
While there are medications to treat endometriosis, surgery is considered the best option if you have chronic and severe pelvic pain, medications aren’t effective in treatment, removal of tissue is necessary, and you're having problems getting pregnant.
Laparoscopic surgery is a minimally invasive choice and is optimal for moderate to severe cases of endometriosis. It’s the preferred method for most as it also reduces the length and amount of incisions and has fewer complications than traditional surgery.
If you have questions and concerns about treatment options for endometriosis, make an appointment with Dr. McHale and her team at WHASN Sunset Valley today.
