Last Updated: 24th July, 2022
Endometrium Dysfunctionality or Endometriosis treatment is a subject depending on a lot of trial and error that has several theories. The possible explanation there is really no definite treatment because nobody really knows what causes this disease. Most endometriosis or endometrial dysfunctionality treatments are used to help control the disease and mitigate the symptoms it causes.
Endometriosis symptoms affect women who suffer in various different ways. As their menstrual period approaches and starts, most women experience an increase in symptoms. In rare cases the symptoms persist throughout the month.
The discomfort and pain are normally localized in the pelvis, abdominal or lower back regions. The severity of the pain caused varied from woman to woman. Endometriosis can also cause severe menstruation and in severe cases infertility.
Endometriosis Diagnosis
The very first step towards treating endometriosis or endometrium dysfunctionality is to get a definitive diagnosis. Women experiencing symptoms of endometriosis ought to see their gynecologist. In some cases an ultrasound or MRI can detect the small endometrial growths but a definitive diagnosis can only be made through laparoscopic surgery.
Laparoscopy is a minimal invasive procedure in which a thin tube with a light and a camera on the end is inserted into the abdomen. This gives the doctor a real-time view of any endometrial lesions, their size and extent of their growth. Once a positive diagnosis is made, treatment options can then be discussed and considered.
Endometrium Dysfunctionality Or Endometriosis Symptoms And Treatment
When an endometriosis treatment plan is being discussed there are several points that need to be considered by the woman and her doctor.
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- How severe are your symptoms?
- What type of symptoms is she having?
- How old is she?
- Is she trying to get pregnant?
- How long should the treatment last?
- What side effects will drug treatment have?
- How much will it cost?
Once these questions are answered a treatment plan for endometriosis can be made.
Understanding what causes endometrial cells living outside the uterus to grow is important in knowing why certain treatments work better than others. Endometriosis is a disease driven by a woman’s hormonal cycle and in particular estrogen. As a woman’s estrogen levels increase through the month, endometrial tissue in the uterus thickens with blood and nutrient rich tissue as it prepares for a fertilized egg. Any endometrial tissue outside the uterus in the abdomen responds in the same fashion.
The hormone endometriosis treatment works by limiting or controlling the amount of estrogen produced by a woman’s body. Lowering the estrogen level limits the amount of growth the endometrial cells can undergo thereby limiting the irritation and inflammation they cause.
The hormone control medicines used in endometriosis treatment usually include:
- Birth control pills
- Gestrinone
- Danazol
- GnRH agonists
- Progesterone hormone tablets
Using hormone drugs as an endometriosis treatment is generally prescribed for women who have milder cases of the disease. Hormonal treatments suppress the ability of the endometrial cells to thicken with blood, thereby helping to relate the symptoms. By decreasing the amount of estrogen, the drugs “starve” the endometrial tissue causing them to shrink and become inactive.
Drug treatment only works during the time the woman is taking the medication. It is not a cure, but a way of managing the endometriosis. If and when the drug treatment stops the endometriosis will become active again over a period of 12 to 24 months.
Women with more severe forms of endometriosis or Endometrium Dysfunctionality usually need to look at the surgical option of endometriosis treatment. When there are endometrial lesions over 3cm in diameter and/or a large amount of adhesion the chances of those responding to drug treatment are minimal.
The most common form of surgical endometriosis treatment is laparoscopy. Also known as keyhole surgery, laparoscopy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure in which a small quarter inch incision is made just below the belly button. The laparoscopic instrument, which has a small light and camera attached, is then inserted into the abdomen and the surgeon can search out and destroy any endometrial tissue they find.
Endometrial lesions are destroyed using a procedure known as diathermy. An electrical current is passed down a fine probe attached to the laparoscopic instrument and uses the burn the lesion of the surrounding tissue. In some cases, lasers are also used to the same effect. Other surgical instruments such as small scissors and scalpels can also be used the remove the endometrial tissue. This type of surgery has a 70% success rate in improving the pain causing symptoms of endometriosis.
A Laparotomy is a surgical endometriosis treatment that is used when the endometrial lesions and adhesions are larger and more widespread. It requires the surgeon to open the abdominal cavity for better access to the affected areas. This type of surgery carries greater risks than a laparoscopic procedure as it is an operation that is more serious and involved.
The last surgical option for women with endometriosis is a hysterectomy and oophorectomy. This is the surgical removal of the uterus and ovaries. This is a radical endometriosis treatment option because this type of surgery will cause a woman to go into early menopause.
The ovaries must be removed because they are responsible for making much of the estrogen found in a woman’s body and estrogen is the primary hormone liable for endometrial flare ups.
Any surgical procedure carries a certain amount of risk and should be discussed thoroughly with the woman’s physician.
Treatment And Conclusion
Any woman undergoing endometriosis treatment needs to remember that this disease still has no identifiable cause nor is there a clear cut cure. For this reason there is a chance that symptoms will re-occur after a particular treatment regimen is discontinued. Discussing any and all treatment possibilities with the woman’s gynecologist is the best way to understanding the what, how and why of endometriosis or endometrial dysfunctionality treatment.