UPMC OB/GYN: Understanding Endometriosis

Ethan Gable, MD
OB/GYN, UPMC

One of the most common gynecological conditions that women face is called endometriosis. It is a hormonally driven disease that affects about 1 in 10 women during the years in which they are able to reproduce, about 15 to 45 years of age. This is approximately equal to almost 180 million women in the world. 

Although this condition is very common, the pain and the other accompanying symptoms associated with the disorder are often misdiagnosed by health care providers or dismissed by the women  experiencing the pain due to lack of awareness and to a societal uncomfortableness when discussing women’s health. Educating everyone about endometriosis helps to break the stigma of discussing menstruation and helps to honor the overall health and well being of women. 

What is Endometriosis?
During a woman’s menstrual cycle, endometrium, or tissue that resembles the kind of tissue that lines the uterus, grows outside of the uterus. It may affect and be found near the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and the pelvis, but in extreme cases has also been found around the diaphragm and lungs.  

Endometrium will thicken and have the need to bleed just like the regular tissue found within the uterus during menstruation. However, because it is in parts of the body that it is not supposed to be, it doesn’t have the ability to discharge or exit the body. This can cause your body to react with symptoms including uterine cysts, adhesions, growth of abnormal fibrous tissues, high levels of pain during your period, and interferences with fertility. 

Signs and Symptoms
The most telling sign of endometriosis is extreme pain in your abdomen or pelvic area during your menstrual cycle. Periods often come with some pain or discomfort for all women, but the pain from endometriosis is considered to be debilitating. Other common symptoms include pain during or after sex, painful urination or bowel movements, and unusual bleeding, nausea, bloating, or fatigue during your period. 

Endometriosis may also negatively affect the mental health of those diagnosed with the disorder and dealing with chronic pain can really limit an active lifestyle. You may need to stay home from work or choose to withdraw from social gatherings more often than those without an endometriosis diagnosis. Experiences with endometriosis are not the same for every woman and understanding the disorder is necessary to provide the support that is needed.

Relief and Treatment 

Different methods of treatment are available to those looking for an endometriosis remedy. Usually, a pain medication can be prescribed for relief as well as birth control to help regulate hormones. These techniques will help temporarily subside common symptoms. 

In more severe cases, surgery may be necessary. Minimally invasive surgeries use small incisions and special scopes that ultimately cause less trauma for patients enduring these procedures. The tools are used to give doctors a clear view of anatomy and the tissues that need to be removed for optimal results. In rarer cases, it is possible that you may still experience severe symptoms after initial treatment methods. At this point, your doctor may recommend a hysterectomy, or removal of the uterus and ovaries. 

No one should have to tolerate endometriosis symptoms when treatments are available to help improve quality of life. If you are experiencing abnormal periods or debilitating pain in the abdomen or pelvis during your menstrual cycle, the safest bet is to listen to your body and mention it to your provider.
Your provider can evaluate your condition and recommend further testing or screening, if necessary, to determine what’s causing your symptoms and what’s your best options for treatment.

Ethan Gable, MD, is with UPMC OB/GYN and sees patients at UPMC Cole, 1001 East 2 nd St., Coudersport. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Gable, call 814-274-7101. For more information, visit UPMC.com/OBGYNNCPA.