Endometriosis is a condition in which the endometrial tissue covering the inside of the uterus grows outside of the uterus. Endometriosis most commonly occurs in the ovaries (endometriomas), fallopian tubes, and the tissue lining the pelvis. About 10% of all women of reproductive age have endometriosis, a common cause of infertility. Approximately 40% of women with endometriosis experience infertility.
What are the symptoms of endometriosis?
- Severe pain during sexual intercourse or menstrual period
- Bloating in the abdomen
- Pain with strain on going to the toilet
- Persistent pains in the lower abdomen may indicate the most common disease
- Menstrual irregularities
- Infertility
Although rare, endometriosis does not show any symptoms in some women. it can only be detected during a gynecological examination.
How is Endometriosis diagnosed?
Women with symptoms of endometriosis should consult a doctor. After reviewing the patient’s symptoms and medical history, the doctor may perform tests such as pelvic examination, ultrasound, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) or Laparoscopy to diagnose endometriosis.
Endometriosis Treatment
Endometriosis can be treated with hormone therapy or surgery. The treatment to be applied is planned individually according to the patient’s pregnancy plan and the severity of endometriosis.
Hormone therapy can be applied to women who do not have a pregnancy plan. It is effective in reducing or eliminating the symptoms of endometriosis.
Hormone therapy is not applied to women who are planning to become pregnant. Laparoscopic endometriosis surgery is performed for women who plan to become pregnant. In laparoscopic surgery, a small incision is made in the belly button. Through this incision, the area of the endometriosis is reached with the help of a thin tube-shaped instrument called a laparoscope with a camera at the end, and the endometriosis tissue is cut and removed. Pregnancy can be planned for 6 months after the surgery. If the woman is under 35 years old and there are no other infertility factors, natural conception can be expected. The rate of natural conception within the first year after laparoscopic surgery in infertile women with endometriosis and no other factors is 41.9%. However, if the woman is over the age of 35, IVF is usually recommended.
