Endometriosis

by  

Regine Epps 

Disorders of the Female and Male Reproductive Systems

Description of the reproductive disorder

Endometriosis is a disorder of the uterus that causes mild to extreme amount of pain during menstruation, intercourse, and urinating because the lining that usually lines the uterus has lined its external region. The areas of the reproductive system that are affected are the fallopian tubes, ovaries, and the pelvis tissue lining. The endometrial tissue is what thickens, breaks down, and if it’s unfertilized it sheds during the female’s menstrual cycle. Since endometriosis causes the lining to grow outside, the thick tissues have no way of exiting the body. When endometriosis meets the ovaries, a cyst called endometriomas is formed. This causes the other tissues to become irritated causing scarred tissue and adhesions that are band-like scar tissue. The band-like scar tissue then causes the other tissues to stick together. The pain that is associated with this disorder typically occurs during menstruation. Lastly, with this disorder the female is also at risk of becoming infertile or developing ovarian cancer.

Causes of the reproductive disorder

The causes for endometriosis are mostly unknown but there are some explanations provided in regard to the disorder. When a woman has a hysterectomy or Caesarean section surgery the endometrial cells may become glued to the incision. It’s possible that when blood from menstruation that has the cells of endometrial return through the fallopian tube and arrives at the pelvis walls and the organs. There they proceed with growing and thickening when the female is menstruating and this is known as, retrograde menstruation. The transformation of peritoneal cells can be the cause of this disorder. And experts believe that hormones or the immune system which induce those cells, line the side of the abdomen and mimic endometrial cells. Estrogen which causes the embryonic cells to change into endometrial cells could be another cause for this disorder and this is called, embryonic cells transformation. At last, endometrial cell transport which occurs with immune system issues, stops the body from acknowledging and disposing endometrial-like tissue.

Treatment

This disorder can’t be cured but there is treatment available for the pain and infertility associated with endometriosis. When determining the proper treatment, the patient the doctors consider their age, the severity of the symptoms and disease, and if the patient looks forward to having children. Hormones in the form of an injection, pill, or nasal spray are utilized. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone medicines which halt ovulation, menstruation, and the endometriosis growths. This medication causes the body to essentially go into a pseudo-menopause. Also, oral contraceptives or birth control pills help in shortening, lightening, and making the woman menstruate regular. This route has been reported to provide relief from the pain the disorder causes. Also, progesterone which is administered through an IUD, pill, or injection helps reduce woman’s period and can stop it completely. Then, danazol stops the production of hormones that encourage the menstrual cycle start. Also, NSAIDS are also used to alleviate the pain associated. A laparoscopy is effective because it removes the lesions caused by endometriosis, but this route is useful for not disturbing unaffected areas. And, a laparotomy allows the surgeon to remove endometriosis patches. This is done when lesions are too small for a procedure such as a laparotomy to detect. In this treatment the uterus may be removed which is known as a, hysterectomy. A surgeon may advise that the nerves of the pelvis are cut if the pain is located within the abdomen. This incision is done with either a laparotomy or laparoscopy.

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References

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/endometriosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20354656

https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/endometri/conditioninfo/treatment

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