Infertility: Complication Of Endometriosis

Irina Gusakova

Endometriosis is a chronic gynecological disease, one of the most common pathologies of the reproductive system, in which cells of the uterine lining (endometrium) grow outside the cavity. With endometriosis, the muscular layer of the uterus, internal genital organs (ovarian tissue, fallopian tubes), bladder, and intestines are affected.

In the vast majority of cases, the disease is diagnosed in women of reproductive age. During pregnancy and lactation, the clinical manifestations of endometriosis cease. Why the disease occurs and how to treat it, the obstetrician-gynecologist of the L7 mammological centre Tamara Nuraeva told Pravda.Ru readers.

At the moment, the exact cause of the pathology has not been identified, but there are several possible theories of the origin of endometriosis. According to some data, retrograde (reverse) menstruation contributes to the development of the disease - in this condition, endometrial cells are thrown into the pelvic cavity during menstruation.

 A certain part of experts believes that disorders in the immune system contribute to the occurrence of endometriosis, while another part believes that endometriosis is formed due to an increased content of steroid hormones in the blood.

The main risk factors for developing endometriosis include genetic predisposition, early menarche (early onset of menstruation), short menstrual cycle, heavy and prolonged menstruation, frequent inflammatory diseases of the genitourinary system, numerous abortions, alcohol abuse, surgical interventions on the reproductive organs.

Symptoms of endometriosis depend on the stage of the disease and the location of the lesions. The most common symptom is pelvic pain, which is cyclic (increased before menstruation) or constant, and also occurs during sexual contact. 

Many girls also have other clinical manifestations of the disease, for example: headache, nausea, dizziness, disruption of the menstrual cycle (increase in the volume of discharge, increase in the duration of menstrual bleeding), pain when urinating or having a bowel movement, fatigue and weakness.

The main complication of endometriosis is infertility, which occurs due to impaired patency of the fallopian tubes or damage to the egg. Against the background of endometriosis, it is also possible to develop a severe form of iron deficiency anemia, adhesive processes in the small pelvis, ovarian cysts, lesions of the urinary system and intestines.

Endometriosis requires dynamic monitoring and a responsible approach to therapy. If the disease can be diagnosed in the initial stages, a woman will need to undergo a course of drug treatment, which involves taking hormonal drugs. 

With the ineffectiveness of conservative therapy, as well as in the later stages of the disease, laparoscopic operations are performed, in which the destruction of endometriosis foci is performed. In the most severe cases, a hysterectomy is used - removal of the cervix.

- Pravda.ru