It can cause pain during sex, reducing how often you have sex and consequently the chances of becoming pregnant. This can cause ovarian cysts, scarred fallopian tubes, reduced egg quality, pelvic inflammation and distorted pelvic anatomy, which increase your risk of infertility.Įndometriosis can reduce your fertility for several different reasons. Once you have received a diagnosis, it is important to start treatment as left untreated, more patches of endometrium can build up. This will allow your doctor to look for signs of endometriosis and collect tissue samples. They will also assess you and, if they suspect you have endometriosis, may recommend a keyhole procedure called a laparoscopy to collect a sample of endometrium - this is the only way to receive a definitive diagnosis.Ī laparoscopy involves passing a thin, telescope-like tube, with a camera and a light on the end, into your pelvic area via small cuts in your abdomen. They may also arrange for blood tests, infection screening and a pelvic ultrasound scan to rule out other conditions.īased on these results and the severity of your symptoms, your GP may refer you to a gynaecologist (a consultant specialising in the female reproductive system). They will ask you about your symptoms and medical history, and may carry out a pelvic examination. The journey towards diagnosis usually starts with an assessment by your GP. This will cause menopause symptoms but these side effects can be reduced by taking the drug tibolone.Īs many of the symptoms of endometriosis overlap with other conditions, it takes, on average, eight years from symptoms occurring to receiving a diagnosis. This involves stopping your ovaries from producing oestrogen via a monthly injection or tablet. If these treatments aren’t effective, medical menopause may be considered. This contains progestogen and oestrogen, and helps reduce the side effects of progestogen-only treatment. If you can’t tolerate these side effects, your doctor may recommend taking the combined oral contraceptive pill. However, progestogen-only treatment often results in side effects, such as abdominal bloating, acne, nausea and irregular vaginal bleeding, especially when starting treatment. It prevents growth of the endometrium, which reduces pain and prevents the condition from getting worse. Progestogen is an artificial version of natural progesterone often used to treat endometriosis, in the form of the progestogen-only contraceptive pill, injection or implant, or as a progestogen-releasing intrauterine contraceptive device. How are hormones used to treat endometriosis?
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |