Endometriosis - Getting the word out.

What is Endometriosis?

Endometriosis is a painful, chronic disease that affects 5 1/2 million women and girls in the USA and Canada, and millions more worldwide. It occurs when tissue like that which lines the uterus (tissue called the endometrium) is found outside the uterus -- usually in the abdomen on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and ligaments that support the uterus; the area between the vagina and rectum; the outer surface of the uterus; and the lining of the pelvic cavity. Other sites for these endometrial growths may include the bladder, bowel, vagina, cervix, vulva, and in abdominal surgical scars. Less commonly they are found in the lung, arm, thigh, and other locations.

This misplaced tissue develops into growths or lesions which respond to the menstrual cycle in the same way that the tissue of the uterine lining does: each month the tissue builds up, breaks down, and sheds. Menstrual blood flows from the uterus and out of the body through the vagina, but the blood and tissue shed from endometrial growths has no way of leaving the body. This results in internal bleeding, breakdown of the blood and tissue from the lesions, and inflammation -- and can cause pain, infertility, scar tissue formation, adhesions, and bowel problems.




What are the Symptoms of Endometriosis?

Pain before and during periods

Pain with sex

Infertility

Fatigue

Painful urination during periods

Painful bowel movements during periods

Other Gastrointestinal upsets such as diarrhea, constipation, nausea.
In addition, many women with endometriosis suffer from:

Allergies

Chemical sensitivities

Frequent yeast infections
Diagnosis is considered uncertain until proven by laparoscopy, a minor surgical procedure done under anesthesia. A laparoscopy usually shows the location, size, and extent of the growths. This helps the doctor and patient make better treatment choices. What Causes Endometriosis?

The cause of endometriosis is unknown. The retrograde menstruation theory (transtubal migration theory) suggests that during menstruation some of the menstrual tissue backs up through the fallopian tubes, implants in the abdomen, and grows. Some experts believe that all women experience some menstrual tissue backup and that an immune system problem or a hormonal problem allows this tissue to grow in the women who develop endometriosis.

Another theory suggests that endometrial tissue is distributed from the uterus to other parts of the body through the lymph system or through the blood system. A genetic theory suggests that it may be carried in the genes in certain families or that some families may have predisposing factors to endometriosis.

Surgical transplantation has also been cited in many cases where endometriosis is found in abdominal scars, although it has also been found in such scars when accidental implantation seems unlikely.

Another theory suggests that remnants of tissue from when the woman was an embryo may later develop into endometriosis, or that some adult tissues retain the ability they had in the embryo stage to transform reproductive tissue in certain circumstances.

Research by the Endometriosis Association revealed a startling link between dioxin (TCCD) exposure and the development of endometriosis. Dioxin is a toxic chemical byproduct of pesticide manufacturing, bleached pulp and paper products, and medical and municipal waste incineration. The EA discovered a colony of rhesus monkeys that had developed endometriosis after exposure to dioxin. 79% of the monkeys exposed to dioxin developed endometriosis, and, in addition, the more dioxin exposure, the more severe the endo.


Endometriosis Association
8585 N. 76th Place
Milwaukee, WI 53223 USA
phone 414.355.2200
fax 414.355.6065
©2005 Endometriosis Association
All rights reserved.

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[SuperMandaPanda17]

Im 16 and already have stage two endometriosis, my family doesnt understand how i feel about having this disease and neither do my friends. in a sense i feel alone in this fight. im weak and sleepy and in pain everyday. my family thinks i sleep just because im lazy but thats not it.. they dont get that i can be feeling fine one minute and the next be feeling horrible or completely weak. idk why they dont understand why it hurts me so much.

[FrozenFireFairy]

@SuperMandaPanda17 it is really hard to make people understand what they will never feel. If the worst pain they have ever felt was a papercut, they think that is the worst pain in the world. If your post pain is your gut wrenching half the time, it's hard for them to tell the difference between the two. Sometimes, you just have to know that they don't really mean to hurt your feelings, they will just never understand. That's a good thing really, I would hate if everyone had felt this pain.

[injuryism]

I really appreciate this video. My boyfriend showed this to me. I have had endometriosis since I was about 10, and they didn't believe anything was wrong with me aside from laziness. I am about to go into my 5th surgery February 11th 2011 and I am very nervous about it because it's gotten so much worse. The last surgery I had they punctured my bladder leaving me with a catheder for 3 months. Thank you for posting this video. People like you really do help people like me.

[FrozenFireFairy]

@injuryism I am sorry you have needed so many surgeries. It seems that every one we have just seems a little bit harder to recover from, doesn't it? I know you will be alright though. To have made it through what you have means you are strong; despite our bodies we are strong. It sounds like your boyfriend is an amazing person. Make sure you don't push him away during recovery and just remember that accepting help is neccessary for proper recovery. You will be fine. :) Good luck.

[chumpey]

My girlfriend has this condition and is suffering similarly. Bless your heart, it sounds so horrendous. I'm trying to be a good boyfriend for her but it is hard between the pain and depression.

This condition needs more attention!!

[FrozenFireFairy]

@chumpey It is really hard to be on the opposite side of Endo. I live in pain so long that I have learned to not let people touch me because I know they inflict more pain not realizing it.  In the end, I have made it so even the ones I love can't touch me. You will have your hands full, and need to realize even if she isn't a cuddle bug, it really is not you. It's the one disease where you can actually believe someone when they say that.

[pregnancymiracles1]

This video clip is pretty decent, thank you for taking the time to upload it

[9800515]

I am a guy.. A guy that is now making a donation. This desease should not have the right to exist.

[smylesman2005]

I've had three surgeries from this stuff. I'm glad this is on the internet :)

[Delahock]

this video is sooo inspiring.My mom had this and it was a miracle that she was able to have me. Unfortunatly she did have a misscarriage before me...now im 17, and before a few months ago I never realized that endometriosis was carried on by genetics usually. Now im looking at the symtoms, and realizing hey...i have all of these..I had a plan to have a family and now i'm learning I may never even get to have one child. havent even been diagnosed and id be lying if i said i wasnt scared.

[lucyinatree]

Thanks for the video. If this was a male issue it would be taken more seriously - leaflets &info everywhere. Women are just expected to suffer and are dismissed as weak or hysterical. I am 31 this has taken nearly 20 years to be diognoised for me. Its horrendous. I have lost my life so far to it. Im hoping my treatement which comes next year works. 2 weeks ago I went to a doc she said nothing wrong with me 2 weeks later I got a second opinion she was stunned how its been missed & how bad it is.

[MsEndoworld]

video's like theses are fantastic for all women going through this condition.

i myself was used as a case study at UCL Hospital in london for the severeness of my endometriosis, message me if u like to ask me any questions.x