Endometriosis is a painful and often debilitating condition that affects a woman's menstruation and reproductive system. Sometimes women do not realize what they're suffering from because of the pain associated with menstruation. Other women develop it later in life and inconsistent symptoms are difficult for doctors to assess. There are a wide range of symptoms that usually affect digestion, sexual intimacy cramping and other pain. Know what to look for and what can be done to help ease endometriosis.
Effects
Endometriosis is a common condition affecting women of reproductive age and is caused when the tissues lining the uterus "escape" from the uterus and grow on the outside of the womb or on other locations within the body.
Significance
A woman with endometriosis will experience painful or debilitating menstruation periods or ovulation. When the tissue lining the uterus detaches from the outside of the womb, it causes inflammation, internal bleeding, pain, and can cause tissue shredding and scar tissue.
Types
Vomiting and nausea are symptoms of endometriosis, but can also be symptoms of a variety of ailments from the flu to food poisoning. Assess your other symptoms to determine if you might be suffering from this condition.
Considerations
Other symptoms of endometriosis can include painful sex, lower back pain, gastrointestinal problems, and increasingly painful menstrual cramps, sometimes occurring during ovulation, depending on the location of the uterine tissue.
Warning
Many women suffering from endometriosis have difficulty conceiving because damaged tissues can obstruct the fallopian tubes.
Theories/Speculation
According to Endo Resolved (see Resources), women who suffer from endometriosis are more susceptible to conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis.
Prevention/Solution
Endometriosis has no cure and hysterectomies may not resolve the issue long-term. Surgical treatments and herbal remedies are often used to help treat the symptoms and pain.
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