Endometriosis: Causes and Treatments for This Painful Condition in Women
Endometriosis is a painful condition that affects around 10% of women in the United States, but many have it go undetected and instead either live with the pain or do not have it properly diagnosed.
Washington Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing has a look at who can be affected by endometriosis along with the causes, symptoms, and treatments for the disease.
Who Is Susceptible to Endometriosis?
Endometriosis is when tissue that lines the uterus grows in other parts of the body, leading to periods that can range from more unpleasant than normal to extremely painful. It can affect girls as soon as they begin to menstruate, but it tends to impact those in their 30s and 40s more.
Symptoms of Endometriosis
Endometriosis tends to occur in ligaments that support the uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes and less common in the intestine, bladder, and rectum. Either way, there will be additional pain in these areas that is sometimes confused with normal discomfort during a period or another gastrointestinal issue. Other symptoms include abnormal or heavy menstrual flow, pain during intercourse, and infertility.
Cause of Endometriosis
Any woman may develop the condition, but women who have a mother, sister, or daughter with it could be at a higher risk, as do women who give birth for the first time after the age of 30 and women with an abnormal uterus.
Treatments for Endometriosis
Endometriosis is typically diagnosed by an ultrasound, MRI, or CT scan, but sometimes, a laparoscopic procedure is required.
Depending on the level of pain, over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen may be recommended, and hormone therapy—including birth control—can also be part of a treatment plan.
The condition cannot be cured, so in more extreme cases, a laparotomy to remove the tissue or a hysterectomy to remove the uterus may be performed.
To learn more about Washington Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing and all of the services they offer, visit http://washington-center.facilities.centershealthcare.org.
