Endometriosis, Page 2

In addition to fertility problems, women living with endo also often experience lifestyle disruption due to:

"many symptoms that can be disguised as other illnesses such as chronic menstrual and ovulation cramping, bowel problems, painful sexual intercourse, lower back pain, nausea, headaches, fluid retention;
less resistance to immune disorders such as glandular fever, influenza, hayfever, and asthma;
side effects from short-term and long-term medications;
reactions to hormone treatments;
repeated minor and major surgeries"

Treatment for endometriosis, once diagnosed, will depend on the severity of damage already done, and may include a combination of drugs and procedures, including:

Birth Control Pills which work by directing the body's hormones to experience a pseudopregnancy state;
Progestin which may be taken orally or by injection, which work by keeping estrogen and progesterone levels low;
GnRH Agonists which usually causes a temporary, chemical menopause;
Danazol which works in several ways to affect the binding of sex hormones and encourage an increase in free androgens;
Pain Medications such as NSAIDS (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), acetaminophen, and prescription-strength drugs;
Laparoscopic or Laparotic Surgery which is used for both diagnosis and treatment.

It is important to note that the use of hysterectomy to treat endo may fail as the disease can recur after the female organs are removed. Also, in the case of mild disease, researchers are hesitant to use some of the above medications if conception is a primary goal. The current recommended course of action for conception-minded women with endo-related organ damage is surgery, followed by ovulation induction (via Clomid, for example) and intrauterine insemination (IUI). "Pregnancy rates following surgery generally range between 35-40% for severe endometriosis to 55-65% with milder disease," according to Dr. Mark Perloe of the Atlanta Reproductive Health Centre.

Is there a way to prevent endometriosis? At this time, the answer is "not for certain". Research is being conducted to determine precursors of endo, but for now, what is known is that there are three potential sources that could make a woman more susceptible to endo: Genetics, or familial link; Immunological disorders; and Dioxin, or organochlorine exposure.

What can be done is to educate yourself, your family, and your friends about this oft-misdiagnosed illness which can negatively affect lives in so many ways.