What is Endometriosis and how do women get it? Endometriosis is a reproductive disease that is caused by endometrial cells that have found their way out of the uterus and into the abdominal cavity. Endometrial cells are able to implant on any of the major and reproductive organs in the abdomen including the small and large intestines, the colon, bladder, ovaries and fallopian tubes. In rare cases these cells can find their way to the lungs, skin and inside the bladder and vagina. Normal endometrial tissue lines the uterus and reacts to a woman’s monthly hormonal cycle. After a woman’s period her hormones signal the endometrial cells to begin getting ready for the possibility of receiving a fertilized egg. The lining of the uterus begins build a supply of blood and nutrient rich tissue to feed a new life. If you are wondering what is endometriosis and how is it different from normal endometrial tissue think about what was said in the previous paragraph. Normal cells in the uterus respond to hormones as they cycle throughout the month. Endometrium outside the uterus responds in the same way. There is a difference between normal cells in the uterus and cells attached to organs in the abdominal cavity; a woman’s monthly period. The blood and tissue lining the uterine walls gets flushed out each month with a woman’s menstrual cycle. The endometrial cells inside the abdomen are unable to do this and as a result this buildup of blood and tissue causes inflammation, irritation and scar tissue. Over time the endometrial cells trapped in the abdomen will grow larger causing increasingly worse symptoms. What are endometriosis symptoms? They can vary from woman to woman but they tend to include; abdominal bloating, pain in the lower back, pelvic pain that varies in intensity, heavy periods, pain during sex, bowel movements and urination that are painful and in severe cases infertility. These symptoms may seem somewhat mild at first but will worsen over time. What is Endometriosis – The Sources of the Cause? Understanding what is endometriosis is only half the battle. We know the disease itself is caused by endometrial tissue growing outside of the uterus. The question then becomes how did it get there? What caused it to happen in the first place? Unfortunately medical science doesn’t have a definitive answer. There are a number of theories that have been espoused but research has failed to prove or disprove any of them. There are four theories that are generally believed to be the most credible; they include. 1. Retrograde Menstruation: When a woman gets her period the endometrial tissue flows downward from her uterus and through her vagina as it exits her body. A retrograde event means that there is a back-flow of menstrual fluid through the fallopian tubes into the abdominal cavity. This could explain how endometrial cells get into the abdomen. The only problem with this theory is that researchers have found that nearly 90% of all women experience this in some form but the vast majority doesn’t ever get endometriosis. 2. Family Genetics: It does seem to run in families. Women who have a mother or sister with endometriosis are 6 times more likely to get it. 3. Autoimmune Disorders: Diseases that attack the autoimmune system are thought to open the door for endometriosis. Many women autoimmune disorders show a higher susceptibility for it. A healthy immune system is normally able to fend off endometrial cells in the abdomen. 4. Xenoestrogens: When asking what is endometriosis a woman needs to consider that it is a disease that up until 50 or years ago did not seem to exist. At the least there were very few documented cases. There seems to be a connection between it and the industrial/technical age we live in. The link most researchers are interested in are the large amounts of Xenoestrogens being released into the environment. These Xenoestrogens are a product of the plastics and chemical industries that we are so reliant on for many of the products we use. These chemicals cause an estrogen dominance in women, and men for that matter. Excessive amounts of estrogen fuel the growth of endometriosis and most research has found that reducing women’s estrogen levels can significantly lessen the impact of endometrial cells growing outside the uterus. What is Endometriosis – Diagnosis and Treatment It is important that any woman who is experiencing endometrial symptoms visit their gynecologist to get a proper medical diagnosis that their symptoms are being caused by endometriosis. The only known cure is a complete hysterectomy but that may not be an acceptable route for everyone. There are treatment options for endometriosis that help minimize the painful symptoms caused by the endometrial growths. Going to the doctor will go a long way towards answering the question what is endometriosis. Endometriosis is a disease that affects over 5 million women in North America alone. To learn more about the symptoms of endometriosis and what can be done to treat it please click here.
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