Endometriosis symptoms afflict about 7
million American women. The signssymptoms of endometriosis
are one of the most painful conditions a woman will ever have to deal with.
Endometriosis is defined as the abnormal growth of endometrial cells that become
scattered in areas where they do not belong. Endometriosis islets can grow in
the fallopian tubes, within uterine musculature or outer surface of the uterus,
the ovaries, pelvic organs, colon, bladder, the sides of the pelvic cavity and
even the lungs. With the onset of the menstrual period, the islets increase in
size, swell with blood and bleed into the surrounding areas and tissues. The
problem is that there is no place for the tissue and blood to go, and the result
is inflammation and a great deal of pain. The occurance of endometriosissymptoms is on the increase, and there is much debate about why.
Here are the most common endometriosis symptoms:
1. Pain - abdominal pain and cramping. And these endometriosis
symptoms may be severe in a woman with mild endometriosis and may
hardly occur in women with widespread endometriosis. The pain and cramping can
be debilitating.
2. Inflammation - during the early part of the menstrual cycle, the endometrial
tissue becomes filled with blood. When menstruation occurs, this tissue also
gives off blood, but it cannot go anywhere. This blood accumulation causes
inflammation that in the abdominal and pelvic tissue becomes very painful.
3. Painful sexual intercourse - endometrial tissue creates pressure in the lower
pelvis or prevents the free movement of the pelvic organs.
4. PMS in the days before and during the menstrual period.
5. Rectal bleeding - also painful bowel movements can occur.
6. Chronic fatigue - pain, bleeding and cramping can be exhausting for the
woman, making it difficult or impossible to function normally.
7. Infertility and miscarriage - the more widespread the endometriosis, the more
likely the woman will have fertility and miscarriage problems.
Some women have endometriosis without having endometriosis
symptoms, while others have symptoms but with little endometriosis. And
the good news is that something can usually done about it without drugs or
surgery with a good chance of experiencing significant improvement.
While the causes of endometriosissymptoms are unknown, high
estrogen levels in women appear to be a contributing factor. Endometriosis seems
to be a disease of the industrialized countries. It often runs in families, and
in many women, there is a correlation to immune dysfunction. Emotional issues
are often involved as well in women with endometriosis. In all these causes,
hormonal imbalance is a common theme among the various factors.
Women diagnosed with the signssymptoms of endometriosis
are frequently encouraged to have a hysterectomy. There ARE conditions for which
hysterectomy is advisable or medically necessary, especially if malignant cancer
is involved. The presence of malignant ovarian, uterine, or cervical cancer,
uncontrollable bleeding, severe endometriosis (adenomyosis) and complex
hyperplasia would justify the hysterectomy procedure. Otherwise, remember that
hysterectomy is a permanent surgical procedure with numerous undesirable side
effects.
If you have endometriosis symptoms, learn more about the natural approach
recommended by naturopathic physicians without resorting to drastic measures
such as hysterectomy. Read all you can about hormone imbalance, excess estrogen
consequences and the role of natural progesterone in treating endometriosissymptoms and related womens health problems.
