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Pregnancy And Endometriosis - Incurable But Pregnancy Possible



Endometriosis & Pregnancy - Background

Endometriosis is a condition where tissues normally lining a woman’s uterus grow or attach to organs located outside. During menstruation, the uterual lining is shed as per normal, but the portion growing outside the uterus remains. During ovulation and menstruation, the uterual tissue growing externally is aggravated continuously. It might get torn, disintegrate and bleed. This is likely to cause scar tissue formation and some discomfort.

More than seven million females in the United States have endometriosis, says the Endometriosis Research Center. It is a key cause of gynecologic surgeries, chronic pelvin discomfort, and infertility.

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What Causes Endometriosis?

Presently, the cause of endometriosis remains unknown, but experts have suggested a few possible reasons. Studies to date indicate that the condition may be hereditary.

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Symptoms

Common symptoms of endometriosis would include, chronic pelvic pain, pain in the lower back, dysmenorrhea, irregalur or heavy breathing, and fatigue. Women can also expect to feel some discomfort while passing stools, some gastro intestinal problems like constipation and diarrhea, and even pain while ovulation or having sexual intercourse. In worse cases, endometriosis may result in infertility.

Diagnosis

The only sure method to diagnose endometriosis is through surgery. Other diagnostic exams like MRIs, ultrasound, or CAT scans are usually inconclusive. A doctor will need to look into the patient’s symptoms, as well as her medical history. In order to diagnose the problem, the doctor may opt to conduct a laparotomy or a laparoscopy.

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A Cure for Endometriosis?

Endometriosis has yet to find a cure, but doctors suggest certain methods of treatment to help with its management.

Treatment

Methods to manage endometriosis include:

Pain Medication

Medications such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen and aspirin, which are available over-the-counter, are used to decrease discomfort and pain. If that doesn’t work, prescription drugs may be recommended.

Hormonal Drug Therapy

Hormone drugs can be used to block a patient’s ovulation. The objective would be to prevent further provocation of the lesions and to shield onself against the onset of related symptoms. These types of medications include GnRH agonists, oral contraceptives, and progesterone drugs. Hormone therapy is performed particularly on patients who have come from surgery.

Surgery

Doctors would usually conduct conservative surgical procedures like a laparotomy or a laparoscopy to find out the nature of the disease and to remove unusual growths found. If this succeeds, it could help eliminate the pain and even raise the woman’s chances of conceiving.

If a conservative surgical procedure is ineffective, doctors may suggest a hysterectomy or some other invasive surgical method.

Alternative/Natural Therapy

A lot of patients prefer alternative or natural treatments against surgical procedures and medications. Common alternative treatments would include acupuncture, Chinese medicine, and nutritional programs such as fertility herbs. There exists a considerable amount of studies that support the effectiveness of these natural treatments to do no harm and to awaken the body’s inherent defense mechanisms and healing activity.