If you've recently been experiencing cramping issues and pain during menstruation, it's important that you see your doctor to have these symptoms diagnosed. While such symptoms are common and may indicate something as harmless as a stomache, it's possible that you could be suffering from endometriosis, which is a severe condition that can bring about various complications if left untreated. The most common complication of this health issue is a difficulty with getting pregnant. An early diagnosis may allow you to more effectively manage your symptoms and prevent the worst complications. Before you visit your doctor, you might want to know more about this condition and the complications that can result from it.

What Is This Condition?

This is a type of painful disorder that develops when the inner lining of your uterus that's known as the endometrium actually grows on the outside of the uterus. This condition can cause problems with many areas surrounding the uterus such as the ovaries and the tissue that lines the pelvis. Although it is rare, there are times when this condition could spread past the organs in the pelvic region and affect the abdominal area. When the endometrium grows outside of the uterus, the issues caused by this problem will occur most commonly during menstruation. In normal situations, the endometrium layer will thicken somewhat, break down, and eventually bleed.

If this process takes place when the endometrial tissue is located outside of the uterus, the broken-down lining will have nowhere to go and will be unable to exit the body. In the event that the endometrium develops within the ovaries, it's possible for painful cysts to form, which typically results in further pain. Surrounding tissues could also become irritated, which might lead to the development of scar tissue. Among the most problematic aspects of this condition is that it's possible for women who are affected by it to eventually develop fertility problems. It is, however, possible to treat this condition and reduce the possibility of complications. Keep in mind that symptoms of this condition are not always noticeable. In fact, some women don't even know that they've developed it until they go to a fertility clinic.

Primary Causes of This Condition

There are an array of causes for this condition as well as risk factors that you should be aware of. While it's impossible to prevent this condition from developing within the body, knowing that you're at risk for it should help you identify the symptoms early enough to obtain an effective remedy. Keep in mind that there's no exact cause of this condition. However, there are a variety of theories that could be the reason why the endometrial tissue develops outside of the uterus.

For instance, it's possible that embryonic cells within the body could be changed into endometrial cell implants throughout puberty, which may heighten the likelihood that you eventually suffer from this condition. There's also a chance that you could experience retrograde menstruation, which essentially means that your menstrual blood is flowing backwards and into the pelvic cavity and Fallopian tubes.

If you've recently undergone a surgery like a C-section or a hysterectomy, there's a chance that endometrial cells have become connected to the main surgical incision that was administered during the surgical procedure. Another possible cause is some kind of disorder within the immune system that results in the system not working properly. If your immune system isn't working like it's supposed to, it may be unable to properly recognize and eliminate endometrial tissue that isn't growing in the right place.

There are also many factors that put you at a much higher risk of developing this condition. For instance, if your period began at an earlier age than is normal, you might be at a higher risk of this health issue. The same is true for women who go through menopause at an older age than is typical. Other risk factors for you to be on the lookout for include abnormalities within your reproductive tract, a family history of this health condition, having relatively high levels of estrogen within your body, and never giving birth.

If you suffer from any kind of medical condition that reduces the menstrual flow out of your body, you may eventually develop this condition. You should also keep track of your menstrual cycle to better identify whether or not you have a heightened risk of this condition. If your menstrual cycle is shorter than 27 days, you could have a larger risk. This is also true if you experience heavy menstrual periods for more than a week. This condition will typically develop a few years after menstruation has begun. If ever you become pregnant, the symptoms associated with this condition may temporarily improve throughout your pregnancy. There's also a chance that it could go away entirely when menopause begins. If you believe that you have developed this condition, it's highly recommended that you visit your doctor so that it can be properly diagnosed.

Symptoms You Might Experience

The main symptom that you'll go through when you develop this disease is pain within the pelvic region. This pain could be minimal with hardly any discomfort or severe to the point where menstruation is extremely uncomfortable. While cramping is altogether common with menstrual periods, the presence of this condition will result in far worse cramping than is usual. Your pain could also worsen over time if you don't receive treatment right away.

The pain that you experience could start before the menstrual period and may last for several days. This pain could also spread to the abdomen and lower back areas. Other instances of pain could occur during intercourse as well as during urination and bowel movements. Excessive amounts of bleeding are also possible, which are most likely to occur during the menstrual period or even between periods. While rare, it's also possible that the presence of this condition could result in infertility or at least issues with fertility, which is when you might want to consider in vitro fertilization.

Some of the other symptoms that you could experience when affected by this condition include diarrhea, fatigue, constipation, nausea, and bloating. These symptoms will almost always worsen during your menstrual period. It's important to understand that the severity of the pain you're going through does not always match with the severity of the condition itself. Some individuals suffer from advanced endometriosis while also having very mild symptoms. The opposite could also be true. The symptoms associated with this condition are regularly mistaken for other health problems that can lead to pain in the pelvic region, which include ovarian cysts and pelvic inflammatory disease. It's also possible that you're suffering from irritable bowel syndrome. Having the condition properly diagnosed is the only way to be certain about what type of health problem you've developed.

Complications if Not Treated Quickly

If you don't obtain treatment for this condition early on, it's likely that you will experience certain complications as a result of the negative affect that this health issue has on the organs within the pelvic region. The most common complication is that of fertility issues. You may find it difficult to become pregnant if you suffer from a mild or moderate form of this condition. However, more severe cases will oftentimes result in infertility. Between 30-50 percent of all women who develop this condition find it difficult to get pregnant. In order for a woman to become pregnant, an egg will release directly from an ovary and travel through the Fallopian tube. A sperm cell will then fertilize the egg before the egg attaches itself to the uterine wall to begin the next phase of development.

When your endometrial tissues have developed outside of the uterus, this issue can disrupt the pregnancy process and make it difficult for the egg to be fertilized by the sperm cell. Depending on the location of the tissues, they could block the Fallopian tube or directly damage the egg or sperm. Because this health condition can spread to all of the organs within the pelvic region, the difficulties that you experience when attempting to get pregnant may not be limited to a blockage in the Fallopian tube or the damage of the sperm cell.

If you suffer from a mild or moderate case of this condition, you'll likely still be able to bring a pregnancy to term without too many problems. If you want to have children but have been diagnosed with this condition, it's recommended that you try to conceive sooner rather than later. Since this condition can worsen over time, it's likely that your chances of getting pregnant will also diminish. In the event that you're finding it difficult to get pregnant, you should look into in vitro fertilization as a treatment solution.

Although not quite as common as pregnancy issues, this health problem can increase your chances of developing ovarian cancer. While you have a heightened risk of contracting this disease, it's important to understand that this form of cancer is considered to be rare. Even though you might have a greater risk of developing ovarian cancer, the chances of this happening are still very low. This form of cancer is difficult to detect and is oftentimes unnoticeable until it spreads outside of the ovaries, which is why you should obtain regular screenings for ovarian cancer if you've been diagnosed with endometriosis. Some older individuals can also develop endometriosis-associated adenocarcinoma, which is a type of cancer that affects the lining that surrounds the ovaries.

The other complications associated with this condition are more severe forms of the symptoms that you're already going through. Your pain and any other symptoms that have developed as a result of this health issue will likely worsen over time. Recent studies have shown that this condition heightens a woman's chance of suffering from heart disease in the future, which can come in the form of high blood pressure, a heart attack, or a stroke. These issues can be solved through regular exercise and eating a healthy diet.

How This Condition Is Diagnosed

Because of the vast number of health problems that can lead to pain in the pelvic region, you'll likely need to undergo a variety of tests before being diagnosed with this specific condition. For instance, irritable bowel syndrome can occur at the same time as this condition and causes very similar symptoms. When you meet with a doctor to describe the issues you're going through, you'll be asked to go into detail about your symptoms as well as where the pain is located and when it takes place.

There are a variety of tests that are used to check for signs that the endometrium has developed outside of the uterus, the primary of which is a pelvic exam. During this type of exam, your doctor will inspect the pelvis to check for any abnormalities in the area, which can include cysts around the uterus or ovaries. In many cases, a pelvic exam can only be definitive if a cyst has formed in some area of the pelvic region. Otherwise, it's almost impossible for the doctor to manually detect that something is wrong with the endometrium.

You'll also likely be provided with an ultrasound test that uses sound waves to build images of the inner portion of your body. The device that's used to make these images can either be inserted into the vagina or pressed against the abdomen. Both of these ultrasound methods have proven to be effective at identifying abnormalities within the abdomen and reproductive organs. This test is also primarily used to detect cysts in the pelvic region and may not be enough to provide a conclusive diagnosis. An MRI might be administered in the course of diagnosing this condition. An MRI device uses radio waves alongside a magnetic field to make images of the tissues and organs that are located in the pelvic region. This imaging test is commonly provided before surgery if the doctor believes that surgery may be a necessary treatment option to help you manage the symptoms of this condition.

The final option for diagnosis is a laparoscopic surgery, which is a minimally invasive form of surgery that provides the surgeon with the ability to look directly inside your abdomen for a closer view of the endometrium. If none of the other diagnostic tools have provided the doctor with a definitive diagnosis, this option may be necessary. You'll be placed under general anesthesia for the duration of the surgery. During this procedure, your surgeon will create a very small incision just nearby the navel before placing a small viewing instrument inside of the incision.

This instrument is known as a laparoscope and consists of a small camera at the very end, which allows the surgeon to look for signs that the endometrial tissue has grown outside of the uterus. This procedure can provide your surgeon with detailed information about the size, location, and severity of this health problem, which will help you obtain the proper treatment. If the endometrial tissue is located outside of the uterus, the condition can also be treated during the procedure so that you don't need to obtain more than one surgery. Once the condition has been diagnosed, you can begin to manage the symptoms or attempt to get rid of the issue altogether.

Standard Treatment Options for This Condition

The treatment solutions that are optimal for your situation depend on what your goals are. If you want to get rid of this condition and treat the symptoms that come with it, there are extensive options that you can select from. However, if you want to treat the complications of this condition that have caused you to have difficulties with getting pregnant, you'll likely want to look into IVF. Conventional treatment options for this condition center around medication and surgery. The solution that you choose will largely depend on what your doctor recommends.

Since the main symptom of this health problem is pain in the pelvic region, you'll likely want to consider over-the-counter pain medications to reduce the severity of your pain and discomfort. The most effective medications for this condition include ibuprofen, naproxen sodium, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Naproxen sodium is particularly effective at lessening the amount of pain that occurs with menstrual cramps. These pain medications could also be combined with hormone therapy if you're not currently trying to become pregnant. The main therapies that are used for the treatment of this condition include progestin therapy, hormonal contraceptives like patches or birth control pills, and aromatase inhibitors.

If none of the less invasive forms of treatment have proven to be effective at treating your case of this condition, you might want to think about obtaining surgery. If you're considering becoming pregnant in the future, less invasive surgical procedures are available that can removed the endometrium without causing problems with your ovaries or uterus. This procedure is almost always administered as a laparoscopic procedure, which means that only a small incision will need to be made during the treatment. While it's possible to get rid of this condition through a standard abdominal surgery, this procedure comes with many more risks, which is why it's more commonly treated via a laparoscopic solution.

If you've scheduled a future surgery and are waiting until the date of the appointment, you'll likely want to reduce the pain you're going through in the meantime. To relieve some of your discomfort, you should think about taking warm baths to relax your pelvic muscles. In turn, your pain and cramping should subside somewhat. Heating pads have also proven to be effective at getting rid of some of the pain.

IVF Solutions for Fertility Problems

Since this condition cannot be cured, you should look into IVF solutions if you're having fertility problems and want to be able to get pregnant now or in the near future. Given the fact that your symptoms will invariably worsen over time, understanding your options early on will help you prepare for what comes next. While individuals with more severe forms of this condition may be diagnosed with infertility, it's still possible to get pregnant when suffering from this condition with the right treatment solution.

In vitro sterilization is an effective type of assisted reproductive therapy that may be able to help you get pregnant if you otherwise have had difficulty doing so in the past. You'll want to have an in-depth discussion with a doctor at a clinic for in vitro fertilization to make sure that you're a good candidate for this process. This treatment is essentially designed to help with the fertilization process of the sperm and egg as well as embryo development and implantation, which will hopefully help you get pregnant. This treatment combines several medications and surgical procedures to help the egg get where it needs to go. As a whole, in vitro fertilization has many steps to it and can take several months to fully complete. However, the end result is that you may be able to solve your fertility problems for good.

The In Vitro Fertilization Process

The first step of this treatment requires you to take certain fertility medications for a few months so that your ovaries can produce a number of eggs that are fully mature and ready for the fertilization process. You will likely receive a variety of blood tests and ultrasounds throughout the process to make sure that your egg production is on track. When the ovaries have effectively produced a high number of eggs, the eggs will be removed from your body through a simple surgical procedure. Once the eggs have been collected, they will be mixed with sperm cells from a donor or your partner. The eggs and sperm will be stored until the fertilization process is ready to begin.

If the sperm are deemed to have lower motility, they could be injected into the eggs in order to encourage fertilization. Once the eggs have been properly fertilized, they will begin to divide and turn into embryos. While this process is a somewhat lengthy one, it will be monitored at all times to make sure that everything is going smoothly. Once 3-7 days have passed since the eggs were retrieved, the new embryos will be placed directly into your uterus, which is a process that's referred to as an embryo transfer. A very thin tube is placed into your cervix and sent to the uterus, which is when the embryos are inserted.

When the embryos have been transferred to your uterus, you will eventually become pregnant if one or more of these embryos attach to the uterus lining. Keep in mind that the embryo transfer shouldn't be painful. However, you will likely want to rest for a day or so following the transfer. The doctor in charge of your treatment may recommend that you take daily shots of a progesterone hormone for around two months following the transfer of the embryos. These hormones can assist the embryos in surviving within your uterus. If all goes according to plan, you should become pregnant in no time.

Side Effects of This Treatment

As with many kinds of treatment, there are some minor side effects with in vitro fertilization. You will be tasked with taking several medications throughout the process, which means that it's possible that you could have an allergic reaction to one of these medicines. This is a rare side effect but one that you should be aware of. It's also possible that you will experience some cramping and bloating while undergoing this treatment, the former of which will be less severe than the cramping you experience when your endometrial tissue is located outside of the uterus. Mood swings are common as are headaches and tenderness in the breasts.

You'll be required to take a number of shots throughout in vitro fertilization, which means that there's always a possibility that the areas surrounding the shots will become bruised for a week or two. Infections and bleeding are also possible following a surgical procedure during the in vitro fertilization process. Any signs of infection should be reported immediately. Your doctor will be able to answer any kind of question you have about the risks and side effects that come with this treatment. This is a lengthy and emotional process, which means that anxiety and depression are common while waiting for the results. Consider seeing a therapist while the treatment is ongoing to help you cope with any anxiety or depression that you feel.

Now that you know everything about this medical condition and the treatments that can be used if you encounter fertility problems, you should have a firm understanding of what to do if ever you're diagnosed with this condition.