What You Need to Know About Endometriosis and Your Fertility.
Doubling over with pain during your period? Sometimes, it's way more than just a serious case of cramps. For approximately 176 million women globally, it's endometriosis, a painful disease in which tissue that normally lines the inside of the uterus grows outside of the uterus. And unfortunately, endometriosis is one of the leading causes of infertility and one of the more difficult ones to treat, says Shahin Ghadir, M.D., reproductive endocrinologist at Southern California Reproductive Center.
What is Endometriosis?
During a normal menstrual cycle, the lining of your uterus thickens and then sheds when a fertilized egg doesn't attach, resulting in your period. But when this lining starts to grow outside of the uterus, like on your ovaries or inside the pelvic cavity, it becomes inflamed, grows, and essentially has nowhere to go, says Ghadir. The result is severe pelvic pain, usually during your period, along with significant scarring to the surrounding tissue. It may also lead to large cysts on your ovaries called endometriums, which are filled with endometrial fluid. And sadly, doctors still aren't sure what causes the disease, though they know estrogen plays a role.
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It takes years for most women to be diagnosed with this mysterious disease, says Ghadir. Unfortunately, that's because the only definitive way to diagnose it is with a surgical biopsy of the tissue. Still, Ghadir urges women to tell their doctor if they have any of the symptoms: chronic pelvic pain, severe menstrual cramps, spotting before your period, painful bowel movements or urination especially during your period, and discomfort or pain during sex especially during deep
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common edocrinopathy affecting women of reproductive age globally. It is characterized by menstrual irregularities, hirsutism and obesity. Different studies worldwide have shown that prevalence of PCOS ranges from 5 to 10% (1-3). Yet, there has been no large scale study to gauge the burden of the disease in South Asia.
The Menstrual Cycle known as a woman’s period is the physical bodily actions that take place monthly when woman reproductive system produces eggs in addition to fertilization. The Menstrual cycle splits into halves and contains the ovaries, hypothalamus and lastly the pituitary (Freudenrich 2015). This cycle lasts between 21 to 45 days ovulation depending on the age and menopause development. The female body matures in body penetration of the lining in the womb. The hemoglobin streams through the womb starting from the cervix all the way through the vulva.
Polycystic Ovaries Syndrome (PCOS) is an ovulation disorder and infertility that occurs in many women. Polycystic ovaries syndrome dates back to 1845 where it was described in a French manuscript as being “changes in the ovaries”. It was called “sclerocystic”. Polycystic ovaries syndrome is a problem that occurs in with the ovaries. A “polycystic ovary is characterized as being a tough, thickened, shiny white covering overlying a layer of many small cysts just under the ovarian surface.” (Thatcher, 10). That was the description that was found in the French manuscript and is still being used to this day for doctors to define polycystic ovaries. A wedge resection in the early 1900’s was the first form of treatment for this syndrome. PCOS involves more than just the ovaries filled with small cysts. Polycystic Ovaries Syndrome causes infertility in women.
A few weeks ago The New York Times published the article Hopeful Start for First Uterus Transplant in the U.S. The article talks about the candidate who will be receiving the first uterus transplant and the expected outcome (Grady). This is exciting news for many women in the United States, but there are a few people that don’t share the excitement. Although there have been uterus transplants performed in other countries before, bioethical issues still arise. There have been some heated debates on this issue in the past, and both the supporting and opposing sides make good points. The truth of the matter is that even though there is risks uterus transplants can benefit women and medicine a great deal.
Evaluating the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in women who have undergone hysterectomy: A review of literature
Endometriosis occurs when endometrial cells grow in areas outside of the endometrium, such as the ovaries, fallopian tubes, or other pelvic regions. This ectopic endometrial tissue promotes an inflammatory response that produces the clinical features of the disease. The condition likely occurs due to various factors such as abnormal immunity, alerted hormone signaling, and genetics.
Ovarian cancer is the abnormal growth of malignant cells in the ovaries, the egg (ovum) producing part of the female reproductive system. Often, Ovarian cancer goes undetected until it has metastasized (spread) to the pelvis and abdomen. At this late stage, this cancer is difficult to treat. Ovarian Cancer ranks as the 11th most common cancer among women, and it is the 5th leading cause of cancer-related death for women.
...e women already are aware that they have this condition before they try to get pregnant. They usually know because they have experienced extremely painful periods, extremely heavy flows, and, in addition to pain during their menstrual cycle…” (Robertson, 2011).
Endometriosis is when the endometrial lining of the uterus bleeds and attaches to other organs and healthy tissues in the body. There is no one organ endometriosis favors it had been known to attach to the bladder, bowel, intestines and fallopian tubes. All though it has been found in the lungs and heart.
Depending of the localization, there are three main types of uterine fibroids (see fig 3)
As a young adult, it may seem foolish to predict what your future family life will look like, especially in regards to children. Often times this reality is forced upon a select few, particularly homosexual couples; however, with the innovation of in vitro fertilization (IVF), a couple is met with promise and the hope of a successful family life. IVF can be described as a process by which a fetus is genetically formed in a laboratory setting. Though this process may seem unnatural in essence, it allows for a more diverse family arrangement through medical innovation. This procedure, though controversial, is seen by many as an advancement in the medical field and can be accredited to procuring a healthy child for an unfortunate family, whether
The female reproductive systems is made of 9 parts. The sex cell for the female reproductive system is called the egg or ovum. The egg spends it’s dormant life in the ovaries until it is released. The egg has 23 chromosomes within it. The ovaries have two goals: to create and house eggs and the release the female sex hormones, estrogen and progesterone. The fallopian tubes are what the egg travels through to reach the uterus. Fallopian tubes contain tiny hair-like structures called cilia; the cilia allows for mobility of the egg. The fallopian tube is roughly the size of 2 hairs, and is the site of where ectopic pregnancies happen. The process of the egg getting released from the ovaries through the fallopian tubes is called ovulation. Ovulation happens on the 14th day of the menstruation cycle The uterus is where the egg goes to after it travels through the fallopian tubes. The developing baby is held and nourished in the uterus. When the uterus is empty, it’s roughly the size of a fist but expands one an embryo starts to develop. The endometrium is the lining of the uterine wall. It’s used to protect the fetus. When the egg isn’t fertilized, menstruation ha...
An obstetrician is one thing, and a gynecologist is another. The job is combined together, but the two branches can be worked separately. An obstetrician is a physician who focuses and is trained in the management of pregnancy, labor, and pueperium (the period following childbirth). A physician who has specialized and trained in the health of the female reproductive system is a gynecologist. The reason the jobs are combined is because they’re both all about women. Obstetricians and Gynecologists are physicians who provide general medical care to women. They equip medical care associated with pregnancy or childbirth, and they diagnose, treat, and help prevent diseases, especially those affecting the female
Menstruation, also known as a menstrual period, is the monthly shedding of the lining of the uterus.