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Overview for Dietary and Lifestyle or Treatment info
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The endometrium is the lining
of the womb (uterus) which proliferates every month before being shed
during a woman's period. If a woman has endometrium outside the lining
of the womb she has endometriosis. Whilst it can be symptomless, symptoms
are caused by the tissues' response to the woman's monthly hormonal
cycle, causing it to proliferate and bleed just like normal endometrium.
However, there is no escape for the monthly bleed so it forms cysts
and fibrous deposits. These endometriotic areas vary in size from a
tiny pinhead to a large cyst with tarry material; the chocolate cyst.
The cause remains unproven but it is most likely to be caused by endometrial
cells being pushed back towards the ovaries instead of out of the vagina
during a woman's period. This would explain why the deposits are almost
always in the pelvic cavity. Deposits within the ovaries, pelvic ligaments,
large bowel (causing obstruction), bladder (causing bloody urine), and
post-operative scars are common.
There can be any of three main symptoms: pain, infertility and menstrual
disturbances. The pain is either severe before, and relieved by the
period, severest at mid-cycle when the woman ovulates, or sometimes
is severest during intercourse.
Endometriosis is a disease of women in the second half of their reproductive
life between 30 and 45 and tends to fade away at the menopause or before.
Overview | Orthodox
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