Despite being a common health issue in women, there are a lot of misconceptions and myths surrounding endometriosis. It occurs when the tissues that line your uterus grow outside the uterine cavity.
This causes painful periods, painful urination, heavy periods, nausea, and other symptoms. Women living with endometriosis might not know it until they plan pregnancy, as the condition affects your fertility. Let’s check out some common myths and facts about endometriosis.
Myths and Facts about Endometriosis
1) Myth: Endometriosis is a rare condition.
Fact:
Endometriosis is fairly common, and many women have i,t but it remains undiagnosed in most cases. That’s because those who have it mistake it for just a normal part of the menstrual cycle and do not bother to seek treatment. Since the symptoms are confusing, they are mistaken for other reproductive issues. MRI, ultrasound, and other imaging tests can help identify the condition, but the more precise way to diagnose it is surgery. A laparoscopic surgery, for instance, can help identify endometrial tissue growth outside the uterus.
2) Myth: Endometriosis is just a heavy period.
Fact:
Endometriosis is much more than heavy bleeding during menstrual cycle. Endometrial tissues growing outside the uterus respond the same way to the hormonal changes as the normal endometrium. They shed during your period. The problem, however, occurs when this blood has nowhere to go. Unlike endometrial tissues that shed and exit through your vagina, tissues growing elsewhere will shed, and the blood pools around the nearby tissues and organs, causing inflammation and pain. You can feel the pain while having sexual intercourse, during urination, and while passing a bowel.
3) Myth: Endometriosis always causes infertility.
Fact:
Endometriosis can affect your ability to conceive, but that’s just in 30-50 percent of the cases. Some women with this condition go on to have a healthy and viable pregnancy. Others can get treatment for endometriosis and conceive. It’s possible to get pregnant with endometriosis if you seek prompt medical care.
4) Myth: Endometriosis can’t be fixed.
Fact:
While it can’t be completely cured, there are treatment options that can alleviate your symptoms and improve your quality of life. Depending on your health status and whether or not you are planning pregnancy, the doctor will recommend anti-inflammatory and pain medication with hormonal therapy to ease your discomfort. Surgery is an invasive yet effective treatment for endometriosis. Your surgeon will carefully remove the lesions and scar tissues. You can also consider IVF for pregnancy if you are unable to conceive normally due to endometriosis.
5) Myth: Endometriosis only affects the pelvic region.
Fact:
Most cases of endometriosis show lesion growth on the outer surface of the uterus, near the bladder, in the fallopian tubes, and in other parts within your pelvic floor. However, in rare cases, the endometrial tissue can break outside the pelvic region and may enter your lungs or other organs, disrupting their functions. Fortunately, that rarely happens.
Conclusion
Endometriosis can affect your quality of life, as its symptoms are pretty hard to cope with. Reach out to Dr. Uday Thanawala for an accurate diagnosis. He’s a professional gynecologist specializing in laparoscopic surgery to diagnose and treat endometriosis.
