Summary of "Endometriosis - causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, pathology"
Key Wellness Strategies, Self-Care Techniques, and Productivity Tips Related to Endometriosis
- Understanding Endometriosis
- Endometriosis is the growth of endometrial cells outside the uterus, causing inflammation, scarring, and adhesions.
- These ectopic cells undergo the same hormonal cycles as normal uterine cells, leading to cyclical symptoms.
- Causes and Risk Factors
- Theories explaining Endometriosis include retrograde menstruation, immune dysfunction, metaplasia of peritoneal cells, benign metastasis, and stem cell differentiation.
- Risk factors: family history, never being pregnant, early menarche, and late menopause.
- Symptoms to Monitor
- Pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation), dyspareunia (painful intercourse), painful defecation, urinary symptoms, and abdominal pain.
- Symptoms often worsen during menstruation.
- Subfertility or infertility occurs in 30-40% of cases.
- Diagnosis
- Best diagnosed via laparoscopy with biopsy confirmation.
- Treatment Approaches
- Medical management to reduce pain and progression:
- Combined estrogen-progesterone oral contraceptives (suppress ovarian function).
- Progesterone analogues (e.g., Medroxyprogesterone, Levonorgestrel) to inhibit endometrial growth.
- Danazol (steroid that inhibits mid-cycle hormone surges).
- GnRH (gonadotropin-releasing hormone) modulators to lower estrogen levels.
- Surgical options:
- Conservative excision of implants and adhesions for women desiring fertility.
- Hysterectomy and oophorectomy for severe cases or completed childbearing.
- Symptoms typically improve after menopause due to decreased hormone levels.
- Medical management to reduce pain and progression:
- Additional Notes
- Chronic inflammation and estrogen production by implants contribute to symptom severity.
- Endometriomas ("chocolate cysts") can cause severe pain and inflammation if ruptured.
- Endometriosis implants carry some risk for gene mutations linked to ovarian cancer.
Presenters/Sources
- Osmosis (medical education platform)
Category
Wellness and Self-Improvement
