Endometriosis
Endometriosis involves
the growth of cells from the endometrium (the uterus
lining) in other areas of your abdomen. About 12
million American women report having this
condition-- that’s 10-20 percent of the female
population.
Endometriosis begins with a backup of endometrial
tissue that builds up throughout the month during a
regular menstrual cycle. The cause of this tissue
backup is still unknown. Instead of flowing out of
the uterus, some of the tissue moves back up through
the fallopian tubes (which transport ovulated eggs)
and falls out into the abdominal cavity. These
living cells are often called implants, and continue
to respond to cyclical hormonal changes. They grow,
build up, and bleed, just like they did before in
the uterus, except there’s nowhere for the blood to
go. The blood can be absorbed slowly by the lining
of the abdomen, but the remaining buildup of weblike
tissue and blood clots cause the scarring and
adhesions that can affect your fallopian tubes,
ovaries, bladder, or bowel. A conventional Western
doctor usually diagnoses endometriosis with
laparoscopy, an outpatient surgical procedure that
allows the doctor to examine your internal abdominal
structures.
A laparoscopy is an outpatient surgical procedure
most commonly used to diagnose endometriosis. A
tiny, lighted tube is inserted through a small
incision in the navel, so that your surgeon can look
inside the abdominal cavity.
Endometriosis
Risks and Symptoms: Could This Be You?
While the causes of endometriosis is still unclear,
here is a valuable list of the current medical
thoughts on the condition:
- Deficiency in the
immune system
- Family history of
endometriosis
- Menstrual cycle
length of 27 days or less
- Early onset of
menstruation
- Periods lasting
seven or more days
- Reported mostly by
women who have never been pregnant
The symptoms of
endometriosis can be difficult to evaluate. In the
beginning, many women do not have any symptoms.
Others who have severe buildup of tissue have no
pain, while some women with only small adhesions
have disabling discomfort. Although endometriosis is
usually diagnosed between the ages of 25 and 35, the
condition could begin about the same time that
menstruation starts. Many of these symptoms are
frequently ignored or thought of as a normal part of
the cycle. Have a conversation with your health care
provider if you experience any of these symptoms:
- Increasingly
painful periods
- Severe pelvic
cramps or abdominal pain one to two weeks
- before the
menstrual period
- More frequent or
irregular menses
- Pelvic or low-back
pain felt at any time during the cycle
- Pain during or
following sexual intercourse
- Pain with bowel
movements
- Infertility
(approximately 25-50 percent of these cases are
due to endometriosis)
If you have symptoms
of endometriosis, make sure you use a pad and not a
tampon during menstruation. Tampons can increase
pain and cramping during your cycle and may make
reflux menstruation (the tissue backup) more likely.
Edging
Out Endo: Acu-Points Plus
Endometriosis can be a stubborn and frustrating
condition because of the complex interplay of
hormones and unknown scarring and adhesions. Dr.
Joel Hargrove, of Vanderbilt, Tennessee, has spent
many years studying the effects of endometriosis. He
states that PMS is reported by 80-90 percent of
women with endometriosis. Conventional medical
treatment is controversial and must be
individualized. Medications are often prescribed to
suppress ovarian function. Oral contraceptives may
also be used in an attempt to prevent the
proliferation of endometriosis. Side effects of
suppressive medications such as danazol are often
unpleasant and include weight gain, fluid retention,
fatigue, decreased breast size, acne, hot flashes,
and muscle cramps.
In our experience, oriental medicine can
significantly improve a woman’s menstrual cycle. If
adhesions are too numerous, surgery may be
recommended, but reoccurrence of endometriosis is
very high. So even if you have the tissue removed by
laparoscopy laser surgery, it may very well grow
back. I have found that acupuncture and herbal
medicine have brought satisfactory relief to many of
my patients for whom surgery is not indicated, not
wanted, or has already been done.
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