Endometriosis Causes Symptoms & Treatment

Endometriosis is a common gynecological condition affecting approximately two to 10 percent of American women of childbearing age. While some women do not have any symptoms, others experience ongoing pain. It is also a factor in infertility - 30 to 40 percent of women with the condition have difficulty conceiving a child.

Serving communities throughout Greater Boston, the gynecologic surgeons at Newton-Wellesley Hospital’s Minimally Invasive Gynecological Surgery (MIGS) can provide patients with screenings and treatment for Endometriosis, which may range from medication to surgery.

To learn more about Endometriosis causes, symptoms and treatment options, continue reading. If you would like to arrange for a consultation and evaluation with one of our surgeons contact MIGS today.

• What is endometriosis?
• What are the different stages of endometriosis?  
• Where is endometriosis often found?  
• What are symptoms of endometriosis?  
• How is endometriosis related to infertility?  
• What causes endometriosis?
• Who is at risk for developing endometriosis?  
• How is endometriosis diagnosed?  
• What is the treatment for endometriosis?  
• What can be done to ease the pain of endometriosis?
• Animated Procedure Video

What is endometriosis?
The name comes from the word "endometrium," which is the tissue that lines the uterus. During a woman's regular menstrual cycle, this tissue builds up and is shed if she does not become pregnant.

Women with endometriosis develop tissue that looks and acts like endometrial tissue. But it is located outside the uterus, usually on other reproductive organs inside the pelvis or in the abdominal cavity. Each month, this misplaced tissue responds to the hormonal changes of the menstrual cycle by building up and breaking down just as the endometrium does, resulting in small amounts of internal bleeding.

Unlike menstrual fluid from the uterus which is shed by the body, blood from the misplaced tissue has nowhere to go, resulting in the tissues surrounding the endometriosis becoming inflamed or swollen. This process can produce scar tissue around the area which may develop into lesions or growths.

In some cases, particularly when an ovary is involved, the blood can become embedded in the tissue where it is located, forming blood blisters that may become surrounded by a fibrous cyst.

What are the different stages of endometriosis?
A staging system has been developed by the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (formerly the American Fertility Society). The stages are classified by level of severity and are listed as the following:

• Stage I: minimal 
• Stage II: mild
• Stage III: moderate
• Stage IV: severe
  

The stage of endometriosis is based on the location, amount, depth, and size of the endometrial implants. Specific criteria include:

• the extent of the spread of the implants
• the involvement of pelvic structures in the disease
• the extent of pelvic adhesions
• the blockage of the fallopian tubes
  

The stage of the endometriosis does not necessarily reflect the level of pain experienced, risk of infertility, or symptoms present. For example, it is possible for a woman in Stage I to be in tremendous pain, while a woman in Stage IV may be asymptomatic.

In addition, women with impaired fertility who receive treatment during the first two stages of the disease have the greatest chance of regaining their ability to become pregnant following treatment.

Where is endometriosis often found?
 Endometriosis can be found throughout the pelvis, including:

• ovaries
• the fallopian tubes
• ligaments that support the uterus
• the internal area between the vagina and rectum
• outer surface of the uterus
• in the lining of the pelvic cavity
  

Occasionally, the implants are found in other places, such as:

• intestines
• rectum
• bladder
• vagina
• cervix
• vulva
• abdominal surgery scars
  

What are symptoms of endometriosis?
The following are the most common symptoms for endometriosis, however, each individual may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms of endometriosis may include:

• pain, especially excessive menstrual cramps which may be felt in the abdomen or lower back
• pain during intercourse
• abnormal or heavy menstrual flow
• infertility
• fatigue
• painful urination during menstrual periods
• painful bowel movements during menstrual periods
• other gastrointestinal problems (i.e., diarrhea, constipation, and/or nausea)

It is important to note that the amount of pain a woman experiences is not necessarily related to the severity of the disease - some women with severe endometriosis may experience no pain, while others with a milder form of the disease may have severe pain or other symptoms.

How is endometriosis related to infertility?
Endometriosis can contribute to female infertility. In mild to moderate cases, the infertility may be just temporary. In these cases, surgery to remove adhesions, cysts, and scar tissue can restore fertility.

In other cases (a very small percentage), women may remain infertile. Physicians are still not clear in all cases how endometriosis affects fertility.

What causes endometriosis?
The causes of endometriosis are still unknown, although theories abound. One theory suggests that during menstruation some of the tissue backs up through the fallopian tubes into the abdomen, a sort of "reverse menstruation," where it attaches and grows.

Another theory states that certain families may have predisposing genetic factors to the disease. Current research is also looking at the role of the immune system in activating cells that may secrete factors which stimulate endometriosis.

Who is at risk for developing endometriosis?
While any woman may develop endometriosis, the following women seem to be at an increased risk for the disease:

• women who have a first-degree relative (mother, sister, daughter) with the disease
• women who are giving birth for the first time after age 30
• Caucasian women
• women with an abnormal uterus
  

How is endometriosis diagnosed?
For many women, simply having a diagnosis of endometriosis brings relief. Diagnosis begins with a gynecologist evaluating a patient's medical history and a complete physical examination including a pelvic exam.

A diagnosis of endometriosis can only be certain when the physician performs a laparoscopy (a minor surgical procedure in which a laparoscope, a thin tube with a lens and a light, is inserted into an incision in the abdominal wall. Using the laparoscope to see into the pelvic area, the physician can often determine the locations, extent, and size of the endometrial growths.).

Other examinations which may be used in the diagnosis of endometriosis include:

• biopsy - a procedure in which tissue samples are removed from the body (often during a laparoscopy) for examination under a microscope.
• ultrasound - a diagnostic imaging technique which uses high-frequency sound waves to create an image of the internal organs.
• computed tomography (CT or CAT scan) - a non-invasive procedure that takes cross-sectional images of internal organs; to detect any abnormalities that may not show up on an ordinary x-ray.
• magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) - a non-invasive procedure that produces a two-dimensional view of an internal organ or structure.
  

What is the treatment for endometriosis?
Specific treatment for endometriosis will be determined by a woman's physician based on:

• overall health and medical history
• current symptoms
• extent of the disease
• tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
• expectations for the course of the disease
• opinion or preference
• desire for pregnancy

If symptoms are mild, physicians generally agree that no further treatment, other than pain medication, is necessary.

In general, treatment for endometriosis may include "watchful waiting" - to observe the course of the disease; pain medication - such as ibuprofen or other over-the-counter analgesics; hormone therapy.

What can be done to ease the pain of endometriosis?
Simple tips that can help ease the pain of endometriosis include:

• rest, relaxation, and meditation
• warm baths
• prevent constipation
• regular exercise
• use of hot water bottle or heating pad on your abdomen

Medical therapies to treat symptoms of endometriosis include:

• Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH agonist), which stops ovarian hormone production, creating a sort of "medical menopause"
• Danazol, a synthetic derivative of testosterone (a male hormone)
• oral contraceptives, with combined estrogen and progestin (a synthetic form of progesterone) hormones, prevent ovulation and reduce or stop menstrual flow
• progesterone alone (orally, injection, Mirena IUD)  

Surgical techniques which may be used to treat endometriosis include:

• laparoscopy (also used to help diagnose endometriosis) - a minor surgical procedure in which a laparoscope, a thin tube with a lens and a light, is inserted into an incision in the abdominal wall. Using the laparoscope to see into the pelvic area, the physician can remove the endometrial growths.
• hysterectomy - surgery to remove the uterus and possibly the ovaries.

Watch Animated Procedure Video

Sometimes a combination of therapies is used, such as conservative surgery (laparoscopy), along with hormone therapy.

Some women also benefit from alternative treatments used in conjunction with other medical and surgical therapies for the treatment of endometriosis. These include:

• traditional Chinese medicine
• nutritional approaches
• homeopathy
• allergy management
• immune therapy
• acupuncture

It is important to discuss any/all of these treatments thoroughly with your physician, as some may conflict with the effectiveness of others.

Animated Procedure Video