Endometriosis is a pathological process in which benign tissue growth occurs outside the uterine cavity. In terms of its morphological and functional properties, this formation is similar to the endometrium (endometrium is a cell layer lining the uterine cavity). As a rule, endometrial cells develop in those places of the body where they should not be at all.
What are the mechanisms for the development of endometriosis?
Regarding the mechanisms of development of endometriosis, various points of view are expressed, more than 10 theories of its origin are known. One of the new theories of the mechanism of endometriosis, based on violations of molecular biological processes, deserves special attention, that is, the process of growth of endometrial cells (proliferation) prevails over the process of cell death (apoptosis ), which prolongs the life of rejected endometrial cells, which, when germinating into the tissue, form foci of endometriosis.
Where does endometriosis most often develop?
Endometrial cells migrate to places unusual for it, it can be the fallopian tubes, ovaries, intestines, kidneys, peritoneum, lungs and even eyes. Sometimes it happens that the whole body is affected by foci of endometriosis. Endometriosis can also spread through the blood and lymphatic vessels, that is, it has the ability to metastasize.
What is the risk of endometriosis?
Since endometrial cells function in much the same way as the endometrium functions, the constant secretion of these areas turns nearby tissues into connective tissue scars (adhesions), a chronic inflammatory process, etc. As a result, this makes the fallopian tubes impassable, which leads to infertility.
In some cases, infertility occurs early in the development of endometriosis, when mechanical factors (scars and cysts) are absent and the relationship between infertility and endometriosis is not well understood. In these cases, as a rule, there are additional factors that can lead to infertility.
At what age are women most susceptible to the disease?
Endometriosis is one of the urgent problems of modern medicine, remaining among the most mysterious and difficult to explain diseases. The frequency of endometriosis varies from 12 to 50% in women of reproductive age. Endometriosis can be congenital, but more often it is acquired. It occurs during the reproductive period and may disappear during menopause, that is, it is directly related to reproductive function. Accordingly, endometriosis is possible at any age, as long as a woman is fertile.
What factors influence the development of endometriosis?
Currently, the following main factors in the development of endometriosis are known: – intense physical labor during menstruation; – neuropsychic overstrain during menstruation; – congestion in the uterus, sexual intercourse during menstruation; – displacement of the uterus due to adjacent organs; – programmed molecular biological potential of endometrial tissue and genetic factors; – narrowing or deformation of the cervical canal, bending of the uterus; – operations on the uterus and pathological childbirth, accompanied by trauma to the uterus, manual separation of the placenta; – inflammatory diseases of the uterus and / or appendages, hyperplastic processes in the uterus and / or ovaries, uterine fibroids.
What are the symptoms of endometriosis?
Symptoms of endometriosis are arching pains, usually localized in the lower abdomen. They intensify during menstruation. However, endometriosis may not be very pronounced or not manifest itself at all. Endometriosis can also be suspected by failures of the menstrual cycle. If you have painful, heavy and prolonged menstruation, their cyclicity is broken, shortly before and immediately after menstruation, spotting appears, you should be wary.
Is endometriosis treatable? If so, which one?
Given the systemic nature of endometriosis, complex treatment is carried out, taking into account all the individual characteristics of the body.
In foreign works, there is a description of two active chemical compounds based on the plant components Indinol and Epigallate, which have a corrective effect on molecular biological processes.
Studies were conducted to study the effectiveness of biologically active drugs in the complex therapy of endometriosis. After a course of treatment with these drugs, the patients showed a significant decrease in the indicators of clinical symptoms of endometriosis, good tolerability of the drugs and the absence of side effects were also noted.
The use of these drugs is advisable in the following clinical cases:
-in all cases of endometriosis, when there are no indications for surgical treatment;
-with a combination of endometriosis and endometrial hyperplastic process;
-as an alternative therapy with hormonal drugs;
-in all cases of complex postoperative therapy;
-in order to prevent the occurrence of endometriosis after an abortion, intrauterine operations, chronic inflammatory diseases of the uterus and appendages.
So, today, taking into account the peculiarities of the mechanisms of development of endometriosis, the drugs of this group existing at this stage have a positive effect on the clinical symptoms of the disease.
Speaking of relation for Endometriosis to the infertility problem in your case, we naturally can discuss the problem and help you to prepare for the consultation with a reproductologist in case of need to coordinate the diagnostics treatment with your profile clinic doctor that you trust the most to find out the best complex solution that would help you to become a happy mother. Medicine doesn`t give up for you! It is very important that you right away indicate the reason why you want to treat it. For example, it hurts, or you want it gone to give birth, or rehabilitation etc. Right goal will bring your doctor to the right methods of tratment. Stay healthy and inspired with us!