endometriosis

Everything You Should Know About Endometriosis

Health and Fitness Yuniar Hamond

It is that time of the month again? While some of your counterparts have pain free periods, the opposite holds true for you. You cringe at the thought of having your periods. It is excruciatingly painful, no matter the pain reliever you use. If that is your experience, visit Fair Oaks OBGYN who will help you make the process at least bearable.

Endometriosis occurs when tissue similar to your uterus lining grows outside the uterus cavity. The tissue can grow either on your ovaries, bowel, or tissues lining on your pelvis. Over time, hormonal changes in your menstrual cycle affect the misplaced endometrial tissue which causes inflammation and pain. The tissues will then break open and bleed at the end of your cycle.

Risk Factors

Endometriosis develops years after the onset of your menstruation. There are several factors which increase the probability of this condition which may include:

Age

While women of all age groups have a risk of suffering from endometriosis, 25-40 years is usually the common group.

Genetics

Your family history determines a lot of things in your life. Endometriosis is one such element. If your family has a history of endometriosis, you have a higher risk of having the disease.

Pregnancy Timing

If you haven’t had children years into your childbearing age, you are at a higher risk of having the condition. Pregnancy is known to decrease endometriosis symptoms. Notwithstanding, women who have had children can also have endometriosis. Thus, it shows hormonal levels significantly influence the condition.

Menstrual Problems

Issues such as shorter or longer cycles than expected are factors that place you at a higher risk of developing the condition. Additionally, heavier periods than expected can also be a sign. If you started your menstruation at an extremely young age, it could also increase your probability of developing endometriosis.

Symptoms

Endometriosis symptoms vary from one person to another. While another may feel mild symptoms, you could have moderate or even severe symptoms in the worst cases. The symptoms include pelvic pain, painful periods, pain on the lower part of your abdomen before and during your periods, cramps lasting one to two weeks, and even irregular heavy menstruation.

Additionally, you might also experience pain during and after having sexual intercourse, discomfort during bowel movements when peeing, and also intense lower back pains. You might also experience difficulty in conceiving. In some cases, you might have blood in your urine or stool and persistent fatigue.

Treatment

While endometriosis has no certain cure, your doctor can help you manage the condition. Your doctor may first opt for medication to manage the condition. However, if you have no signs of improvement, you might get surgery. The medication can include pain relievers, supplemental hormone therapy, and also hormonal contraceptives. Surgery is usually the last call for your condition.

Endometriosis occurs in four stages, namely: minimal, mild, moderate, and eventually severe. No matter the stage you are in, always remember endometriosis is manageable through proper medication. Additionally, you can also have children even with the condition.

Why You Need to Find an Endometriosis Specialist

Health and Fitness Yuniar Hamond

The symptoms of endometriosis take some time before they manifest, and it may take another duration before you get a proper diagnosis for your condition. The symptoms of the condition are similar to other pelvic disorders, and you might have been misdiagnosed in the past. Find a New York endometriosis specialist who will help you deal with your condition through an online search. Although there is a shortage of specialists, finding a trained and certified expert is vital in healing from endometriosis.

How to Find an Endometriosis Specialist

Search online for endometriosis specialist care centers. These centers should have specialists who are experienced in treating the disease. Additionally, consider looking for those within fifty miles from your home as most insurance companies will cover the treatment within this coverage.

Prepare to Travel

You might contact an expert and find out that they have vast experience in endometriosis treatment, but they are far away from you. Be prepared to travel to meet the expert at a distant location; some centers will offer accommodation while some might arrange for cheap hotels for you near the hospital.

Questions to Ask Your Endometriosis Specialist

Ask the expert if they specialize in the care and treatment of endometriosis and listen to them as they analyze your condition to see if they give valuable input to your treatment plan. Make sure that your endometriosis specialist can explain the treatment comprehensively and understandably for easy care of your condition. Your specialist should ask the right questions concerning your condition; for instance, they should be concerned about the current and past situation of your condition. Your chosen health care facility should allow you to work with teams of experts such as a urologist, general surgeons, and endometriosis specialists.

Seek Local Treatment First

Before you find the expert treatment, you might consult the local physician to ease your condition, and you should take pain medication according to the direction of the physician. A physician might also recommend hormonal therapy such as birth control pill, patches, and vaginal rings with estrogen and progestin. Your physician might also recommend therapies that work for your condition and other complementary treatments such as stress management, change of diet, and acupuncture.

You should, however, know that medications are a temporary solution for managing the symptoms and pain caused by endometriosis as they do not treat the infection. An expert will guide you on dealing with the condition in which, for most cases, is excision of the diseased tissues.

Endometriosis results from the growth of uterine-like tissues on other organs of the pelvic region. These tissues then thicken, breakdown, and bleed during normal menstruation, and with no way for the blood to escape, it becomes trapped and forms cysts. You should know that if endometriosis is left untreated, it can cause infertility, and result in chronic pain that can alter normal life activities

Conclusion

Endometriosis is a life-threatening condition attributed to the formation of uterine-like cells on other organs of the pelvic region, which bleed during menstruation forming cysts. If the endometriosis is untreated, it causes severe pain and affects your life. It is critical to look for a specialist and team of experts that can help you deal with endometriosis.