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Endometriosis: Conditions
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Endometriosis is a condition in which the lining of the uterine cavity (endometrium) grows outside of the uterus. Endometriosis can be found anywhere in the pelvic cavity, including all the reproductive organs as well as on the bladder, small bowel, colon, rectum, appendix, and vagina. However, endometriosis cannot be considered simply as misplaced endometrium, because it differs in hormonal responses and visual appearance.
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Endometriosis can occur at any time from the onset of menstrual periods until the menopause. It is extremely rare for it to be first diagnosed after the menopause, but not unknown. For the majority of women the condition ceases at the menopause.
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Among the more common problems that affect the female pelvic anatomy would be endometriosis and previous pelvic infection. Endometriosis affects 10-15% of all females. In this condition, the lining of the uterus, the endometrium, has begun to grow inside the pelvis. This leads to an inflammatory response, as the body tries to eliminate these misplaced cells. This disorder is a progressive problem that usually worsens with time. Initially, chemicals are produced that interfere with the interaction of egg and sperm.
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Women at higher risk for endometriosis tend to have more problems with menstruation. Those at higher risk have a shorter than normal cycle, heavier periods, and longer periods. Heavier, more frequent periods, or longer exposure may simply make the risk for retrograde menstruation more likely. (This is the condition in which menstrual flows backward and is believed to be at least partially responsible for the initial development of endometriosis.) Menopause usually brings an end to mild-to-moderate endometriosis, although if women with a history of endometriosis take hormone replacement therapy (HRT), the condition may be reactivated.
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With endometriosis, cellswhich somewhat resemblethe endometrium (thelining of the uterus)are found outside the uterus where they don't belong. It is a benign (noncancerous) condition. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), endometriosis is a common condition affecting 10 to 15 percent of reproductive-age women. It occasionally causes symptoms even after natural or surgical menopause. Read More
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Some evidence suggests that endometriosis represents an autoimmune condition, in which the immune system launches an attack on its own cells and tissue. Much of the evidence rests on the relatively high incidence of other inflammatory autoimmune disorders (multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus) that occur in women with endometriosis. It is unclear... how this response relates to endometriosis itself and whether endometriosis should be treated as an autoimmune condition.
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