This chronic disease that causes intense pelvic pain during menstruation affects 1.9 billion women worldwide. Therefore, it is important to generate greater awareness among the population to ensure proper diagnosis and treatment.

No doubt, science and technology have had a notable impact in the field of medicine, because thanks to constant advances in research, greater innovation has been achieved in terms of diagnosis, treatment and prevention of several diseases that alter people’s quality of life. However, the world of health still remains a mystery in many aspects, since there are certain conditions, such as endometriosis, which in many cases is difficult to diagnose, despite affecting approximately 10% of women and girls in reproductive age worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

For her part, Alida Oblitas, a gynecologist and obstetrician at Clinica Ricardo Palma, explained to Bienestar from El Comercio that endometriosis is a disease that affects women and occurs when the endometrium, which is the tissue that lines the inside of the uterus, is found abnormally outside the uterine cavity, locating in other anatomical areas, such as the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and pelvic tissue.

What is the cause of endometriosis?

Four theories about its origin are considered, although up to now the most accepted in terms of its development is Sampson’s theory of retrograde menstruation, which indicates that in each menstrual period the blood containing endometrial cells returns through the fallopian tubes into the pelvic cavity instead of being expelled from the body through the cervix and vagina. As the specialist pointed out, these endometrial cells adhere to the pelvic walls and the surfaces of the pelvic organs, where they grow and continue to thicken and bleed throughout the menstrual cycle.

Basically, these adhesions condition the person to suffer from extremely intense pelvic pain that can often lead to a clinical emergency. In addition, these cramps can also occur in the lower back and abdomen, and can occur before and continue for several days after the start of menstruation. In the same way, this strong discomfort is generated during sexual intercourse, when defecating or urinating, since excessive sporadic or intermenstrual bleeding occurs.

How is endometriosis diagnosed?

Unfortunately, as Oblitas mentioned, this is a difficult disease to diagnose; above all, in Peru, since there are not many well-developed endometriosis units that allow early detection. However, in view of these obstacles, a magnetic resonance of the pelvic and soft areas is made as well as a transvaginal ultrasound. Sometimes, when a woman fails to get pregnant, she resorts to a diagnostic laparoscopy, and once her abdomen is visualized, in many cases severe endometriosis can be detected.

Although it is true, endometriosis does not generate other diseases or complications that put the lives of patients at risk, it can seriously hurt the ovary and as a result of adhesions it can compromise other neighboring organs. For this reason, beyond menstrual pain, it is also one of the causes of female infertility.

What is the treatment for endometriosis?

In general, a surgical procedure is performed, because if an ovarian cyst is detected, the gynecologist and obstetrician indicates that it is pertinent to remove it or in the case of severe adhesion syndrome, it is important to intervene to release said adhesions and relieve the pain of the patient.

While, on some occasions, the entire matrix is even removed, for which a hysterectomy or an oophorectomy is performed.

Likewise, a medical treatment is carried out; above all, in women who still do not have children, since it is a matter of preserving their reproductive health, for which the aim is to block pain with analgesics and anti-inflammatories or even, treatments are used so that the patient menstruates very little or simply not at all since this period is synonymous of pain, with these treatments it is sought to minimize the discomfort as much as possible.

Is endometriosis a disease that has a cure?

Currently, there is no cure, since it is considered a chronic disease, which requires alternatives to manage pain or in many cases, the best option is surgical intervention, since the endometrioma can continue to grow and hurt the ovary, causing future reproductive problems. However, even if a surgery is performed, there is always the possibility that a cyst will develop again.

“It is very important to go for a gynecological control periodically, since it is increasingly common to see this condition in young women; however, it is possible to perform an early intervention and manage to prevent the ovary from being compromised,” indicates Oblitas.

On the other hand, although there is no specific way to prevent it, several studies suggest that it could be related to lifestyles and diet. However, it is not possible to foreseen who will present this disease, perhaps the only way to suspect the disease would be due to menstrual cramps, but to have a more accurate diagnosis it is necessary to undergo the previously suggested medical alternatives.

Dr. Alida Oblitas
Gynecologist at Clinica Ricardo Palma

Source: elcomercio.pe