What is Endometriosis?Endometriosis is a condition where the endometrial tissue (the tissue that lines the uterus) is found elsewhere in the body. This tissue reacts when a woman menstruates and the blood cannot be expelled. Places where this tissue can become trapped include the most commonly the pelvis but can also include the vagina, the anus as well as others, and in some rare cases the lungs. Symptoms include intense pelvic pain, gastrointestinal upset and fatigue. The symptoms are often dismissed by medical professionals as ‘bad period cramps’. It is reported that one in 10 women are affected by the chronic condition (Dominion Post, 1998). Lack of understanding and knowledge about the disease is connected to why the disease often goes undiagnosed. The average time period before diagnosis is between 7 to 10 years (Hoby, 2002). It is also reported that 30 – 40% of women with the condition are infertile. Incidents of disease can only be confirmed with laparoscopic surgery, which is conducted while the patient is under anesthesia. Research conducted by the Endometriosis Association in Milwaukee, USA found that the disease also correlates with the likelihood of suffering from other conditions such as autoimmune inflammatory diseases, chronic fatigue and allergic and a-topic conditions such as eczema and asthma (www.endometriosisassn.org). Endometriosis is a serious condition that is damaging both physically and emotionally, to both the sufferers and their loved ones. If symptoms are encountered, medical advice should be sought. References Dominion Post (1998), Endometriosis on May, 8 1998 from EBSCOhost Research Database on May 18, 2006 Hoby, K. (2002), Endometriosis often undiagnosed from The New Zealand Herald on January, 7, 2002 from EBSCOhost Research Database on May 18, 2006 Further Readings
|
|
|
-
Endometriosis Article
( 1 items )
What is Endometriosis?Endometriosis is a condition where the endometrial tissue (the tissue that lines the uterus) is found elsewhere in the body. This tissue reacts when a woman menstruates and the blood cannot be expelled. Places where this tissue can become trapped include the most commonly the pelvis but can also include the vagina, the anus as well as others, and in some rare cases the lungs. Symptoms include intense pelvic pain, gastrointestinal upset and fatigue. The symptoms are often dismissed by medical professionals as ‘bad period cramps’. It is reported that one in 10 women are affected by the chronic condition (Dominion Post, 1998). Lack of understanding and knowledge about the disease is connected to why the disease often goes undiagnosed. The average time period before diagnosis is between 7 to 10 years (Hoby, 2002). It is also reported that 30 – 40% of women with the condition are infertile. Incidents of disease can only be confirmed with laparoscopic surgery, which is conducted while the patient is under anesthesia. Research conducted by the Endometriosis Association in Milwaukee, USA found that the disease also correlates with the likelihood of suffering from other conditions such as autoimmune inflammatory diseases, chronic fatigue and allergic and a-topic conditions such as eczema and asthma (www.endometriosisassn.org). Endometriosis is a serious condition that is damaging both physically and emotionally, to both the sufferers and their loved ones. If symptoms are encountered, medical advice should be sought. References Dominion Post (1998), Endometriosis on May, 8 1998 from EBSCOhost Research Database on May 18, 2006 Hoby, K. (2002), Endometriosis often undiagnosed from The New Zealand Herald on January, 7, 2002 from EBSCOhost Research Database on May 18, 2006 Further Readings
|
