Hi, I'm Dr. Megan Wasson,
a minimally invasive gynecologic
surgeon at Mayo Clinic.
In this video, we will cover
the basics of endometriosis,
including what is it, who gets it,
as well as the symptoms,
diagnosis and treatment.
Whether you are looking for answers
for yourself or someone you love,
we are here to give you
the best information available.
Endometriosis is a condition
in which cells similar to
the lining of the uterus, or
endometrium, grow outside the uterus.
Endometriosis often
involves the pelvic tissue
and can envelop the ovaries
and fallopian tubes.
It can affect nearby organs,
including the bowel and bladder.
So during the menstrual cycle, or period,
this tissue responds to
hormones, and due to its location,
frequently results in pain.
Endometriosis causes surrounding tissues
to become irritated and
potentially develop scars and
sticky fibers that bind tissues together.
In some cases, endometriosis
can cause cysts on the ovaries.
These are called endometriomas.
Fortunately, there are effective treatments
to manage and treat endometriosis.
There are some possible
explanations of what sparks
the endometrial-like tissue to grow out of place.
But the exact cause is still uncertain.
However, there are some factors that make
someone more likely to get endometriosis,
such as never giving birth,
menstrual cycles occurring more
frequently than every 28 days,
heavy and prolonged menstrual periods
that lasts longer than seven days,
having higher levels of
estrogen in your body,
having a low body mass index,
having a structural issue
with the vagina, cervix,
or uterus that prevents
the passage of menstrual blood from the body,
a family history of endometriosis,
starting your period at an early age,
or starting menopause at an older age.
The most common symptom of
endometriosis is pelvic pain,
either during or outside
of the normal menstrual period
that is beyond normal cramping,
Normal menstrual cramping
should be tolerable and should not
require someone to miss time from school,
work or normal activities.
Other symptoms include cramps that begin
before and extend after a menstrual period,
lower back or abdominal pain,
pain with intercourse, pain with
bowel movements or urination,
and infertility.
Individuals with endometriosis
may experience fatigue,
constipation, bloating,
or nausea, especially during periods.
If you are feeling these symptoms,
it's a good idea to talk
to your health care provider.
First, your provider will
ask you to describe your symptoms,
including the location of the pelvic pain.
Next, they may do
a pelvic exam, an ultrasound,
or an MRI to get
a clearer view of the reproductive organs,
including the uterus,
ovaries, and fallopian tubes.
To definitively diagnose endometriosis,
surgery is required.
This is most commonly
performed by laparoscopy.
The patient is under
general anesthesia while the surgeon inserts
a camera into the abdomen through
a small incision to
evaluate for endometrial-like tissue.
Any tissue that looks
like endometriosis is removed
and examined under the microscope to confirm
the presence or absence of endometriosis.
When it comes to treating endometriosis,
first steps involve trying to manage
symptoms through
pain medications or hormone therapy.
Hormones, such as birth control pills,
control the rise and fall of
estrogen and progesterone
in the menstrual cycle.
If those initial treatments fail and
symptoms are impacting
a person's quality of life,
surgery to remove
endometriosis tissue may be considered.
Dealing with endometriosis,
its pain, complications
and fertility problems can be
hard to cope with and be stressful.
Consider joining a support group of people
who can relate to what you are going through.
If you'd like to learn even
more about endometriosis,
watch our other related videos
or visit MayoClinic.org.
We wish you well.