Endometriosis

What is endometriosis?

Endometriosis is a condition where the tissue lining your uterus grows outside of your uterus. This tissue is called endometrial tissue. When you have endometriosis, endometrial tissue most commonly grows in the following places:

• Ovaries
• Fallopian tubes
• Membrane lining your pelvic region and abdomen (peritoneum)
• Outer surfaces of your intestines, uterus, ureters, bladder, and rectum
• The area behind your uterus

Endometriosis can cause health problems and make it difficult to become pregnant. Nearly one in four women with infertility have endometriosis.

What are the symptoms of endometriosis?

The most common signs of endometriosis include:

• Lasting pelvic pain that’s especially pronounced right before and during your period
• Heavy menstrual bleeding
• Pain during sexual intercourse
• Pain while urinating or bowel movements

However, many women experience no symptoms with endometriosis.

Does endometriosis cause infertility?

Endometrial tissue growing outside of your uterus can cause inflammation and scarring. It produces build-ups of tissue called adhesions. These adhesions may block eggs and sperm from moving through your uterus and fallopian tubes, preventing implantation and pregnancy.

How is endometriosis treated?

Your OB/GYN at Westmoreland Obstetrics and Gynecologic Associates will create a treatment plan for you based on factors that include:

• Your symptoms
• Where the endometriosis is located and how much it has spread
• Whether you want to have children

Your options may include medications to relieve pain, surgery, or a combination of the two. Hormonal medications, such as birth control pills or medicines containing progestin, may prevent new endometrial tissue from growing.

If you do not want to become pregnant, your OB/GYN may recommend surgery or a procedure called endometrial ablation to relieve your symptoms.

What is endometrial ablation?

Endometrial ablation is a procedure to ablate, or destroy, the lining of your uterus. Your OB/GYN at Westmoreland Obstetrics and Gynecologic Associates may do the ablation with a tiny probe inserted into your uterus through your cervix under anesthesia.

The treatment generally results in lighter or normal periods. Endometrial ablation is not birth control and a reliable method of birth control is necessary as a patient with an ablated lining may not support a pregnancy.

If you’ve been struggling with heavy periods or pain, the board-certified OB/GYNs at Westmoreland Obstetrics and Gynecologic Associates offer expert diagnosis and treatment for endometriosis. To find out how they can help you, call today or book a consultation.