Endometriosis is a more common gynaecological condition than one would imagine affecting around 10% of women globally. Endometriosis comes from the endometrium which is the lining of the uterus. When someone has this condition, the endometrium grows outside the uterus rather than inside it. It primarily affects the fallopian tubes, ovaries, and tissue around the pelvic region. Endometriosis is a painful condition and women suffering from it may often face infertility issues as well.

Endometriosis Stages:

The American Society of Reproductive Medicine has developed a classification system to identify and treat the condition ideally. The four stages are as follows:

1. Stage 1: Minimal
2. Stage 2: Mild
3. Stage 3: Moderate
4. Stage 4: Severe

Stage 1 and Stage 2 endometriosis does not essentially pose as much risk of infertility as with Stage 3 and Stage 4.

Endometriosis Symptoms:

It is essential to know the symptoms of endometriosis to be able to identify the problem at an early stage. Endometriosis symptoms usually include the following:

• The most common symptom is unbearable menstrual cramps. It is common to feel cramps during menstruation but for women with endometriosis, the pain is way greater in intensity.
• Another common symptom is to have painful bowel movements and/or painful urination during menstruation.
• Painful sexual intercourse can also be a symptom of endometriosis.
• Many women also experience a heavier than usual menstrual follow if they have endometriosis.
• Sometimes women with endometriosis also suffer from gastrointestinal issues like constipation, diarrhoea, etc.

These endometriosis symptoms must not be ignored and taken lightly. Identification of endometriosis at an early stage can help women treat most symptoms to a great extent.

Diagnosis of Endometriosis

The only way to successfully diagnose endometriosis is through a laparoscopy. Therefore if someone has any of these symptoms they must talk to their doctor regarding them. The gynaecologist will go through the patient’s symptoms carefully, look at their medical history and perform a pelvic exam. The gynaecologist can then rightly guide them if they may have endometriosis and need a laparoscopy to successfully diagnose their condition.

In addition to laparoscopy, ultrasounds, ct scans, and MRI can also be suggested by the doctor to identify the stage and type of endometriosis.

Endometriosis Treatment:

Usually, for Stage 1 and Stage 2 endometriosis with milder symptoms, doctors agree that no extensive treatment is required except for pain medication. Doctors may sometimes also recommend hormone therapy 

Which may include oral contraceptives, a Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist, or a synthetic derivative of testosterone. However, if the endometriosis is severe, surgical procedures may be undertaken to remove the scar tissue. These methods include procedures like laparoscopy in which the doctor will use laparoscopy to look into the pelvic area and remove endometrial growths.

Another surgical procedure that may be employed to treat endometriosis is a Laparotomy. This procedure involves a more extensive incision to remove the scar tissue and save the healthy tissue. The most extensive surgical procedure that may be employed to treat severe endometriosis is a hysterectomy wherein the entire uterus and ovaries may be surgically removed.

Conclusion

Therefore it is essential that endometriosis is identified at Stage 1 so that symptoms can be treated at the earliest. At this stage, doctors will also keep a continuous watch on the patient to observe the course of the condition over time.