Main Questions and Answers on Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a chronic, estrogen-dependent, ovarian disease that affects only women of reproductive age (it is estimated that at least 10% of them are affected) and in which the endometrium, which is the tissue that Usually lining the uterine cavity, appears in places other than its normal location.

The ultimate cause of the disease is not known exactly. It is known to be related to a phenomenon that occurs in all women: retrograde menses , which means that during menstruation, blood also leaves the tubes and goes to the abdominal cavity. However, it is unknown because in some women this universal phenomenon produces endometriosis. Possible genetic, immunological, and even environmental contaminants have been cited as ultimate culprits.

The main symptom of endometriosis is pain. It usually appears in the form of intense and disabling menstrual pain but may also appear in the form of:

- Pain with sexual intercourse

- Pain on stool or urination

- In the form of chronic pelvic pain

Other symptoms that can be associated are intestinal or urinary, fatigue, fatigue, among others.

 

Between 30 and 50% of women with endometriosis have difficulty becoming pregnant. This may be due to anatomical alterations caused by the disease and, above all, the inflammatory alterations associated with endometriosis that alter the internal environment, preventing both fertilization of the eggs and implantation of the embryo.

Today it is considered that the ideal treatment for endometriosis is medical. The surgery should be reserved for specially indicated cases and should always be performed by a surgeon gynecologist with experience in this type of surgery, since these are operations of generally high difficulty. From the point of view of reproduction it is important to point out that the main treatment to achieve gestation is in vitro fertilization , and other types of treatments such as intrauterine insemination are not effective, except in very selected cases.