The World Health Organisation defines endometriosis as a disease in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus.
Endometriosis can cause severe pain in the pelvis and make it harder to get pregnant and can start at a person’s first menstrual period and last until menopause.
With this disease, tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus leading to inflammation and scar tissue forming in the pelvic region and (rarely) elsewhere in the body.
At present, there is no known cause of endometriosis with WHO adding that there is also no known way to prevent it. The disease also has no known cure, but its symptoms can be treated with medicines or, in some cases, surgery.
Endometriosis often causes severe pain in the pelvis, especially during menstrual periods with some patients also experiencing pain during sex or when using the bathroom. Others have trouble getting pregnant.
And while some people with endometriosis do not always have any symptoms, for those who do, a common symptom is pain in the lower part of the belly (pelvis).
“The pain may be most noticeable during a period, during or after sex as well as when urinating or defecating,” says WHO.
Other people also experience chronic pelvic pain, heavy bleeding during periods or between periods, trouble getting pregnant, bloating or nausea, fatigue, depression or anxiety. Symptoms, notes WHO, often improve after menopause, but not always.
“Endometriosis symptoms are variable and broad, meaning that healthcare workers may not easily diagnose it. Individuals with symptoms may not be aware of the condition,” WHO says.
In terms of causes, WHO argues that many different factors are thought to contribute to the development of the disease.
At present endometriosis is thought to arise due to retrograde menstruation, cellular metaplasia as well as when stem cells give rise to the disease, which then spreads through the body via blood and lymphatic vessels.
“Other factors may also contribute to the growth or persistence of ectopic endometrial tissue. For example, endometriosis is known to be dependent on estrogen, which increases the inflammation, growth and pain associated with the disease,” WHO says.
In terms of prevention, WHO says that enhanced awareness, followed by early diagnosis and management may slow or halt the natural progression of the disease and reduce the long-term burden of its symptoms, including possibly the risk of central nervous system pain sensitization. Currently there is no cure.
“Treatments to manage endometriosis can vary based on the severity of symptoms and whether pregnancy is desired. A range of medications can help manage endometriosis and its symptoms.”
“Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and analgesics (painkillers) like ibuprofen and naproxen are often used to treat pain,” says WHO.
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