Download Endometriosis

Endometriosis
Christina Hodder
Leanne Jesso
Introduction





Uterine lining implants itself to
other organs in the pelvic
region. Ex.. Ovaries, bladder,
fallopian tubes
Appears as cysts and
adhesions
Causes a great deal of
menstrual pain
Affects women of the
reproductive age
Remains a “hidden” disease
until other problems arise
Brief History


Thought to be a disease of the upper
class, white woman
The first report in 1860 by a Dr.
Rokitansky
Symptoms






Pelvic Pain (acute or chronic)
Dyspareunia (painful intercourse)
Painful bowel movements
Premenstrual staining and abnormal bleeding
Difficult urination and/or blood present in the
urine
Infertility
Some Theoretical Causes




Genetic, “runs in the family”
Retrograde menstruation
Problems in the immune system
Estrogen (natural and synthetic)
Effects on the Body





Linked to infertility
Miscarriages
Loss of reproductive organs
(hysterectomy)
Psychologically damaging
Chronic pain
Methods of Diagnosis


Most cases diagnosed because of other complication(s)
Laparoscopy is best detector and treatment option
Some Classifications



Mild- Rare, scattered lesions, no scarring
Moderate- Minimal adhesions and
superficial implants
Severe- Reproductive organs are bound
down by growths, bladder and/or bowel
may also become affected
Stages
Treatment Options- Surgical



Laparoscopy- method of choice
Conservative surgery
Hysterectomy
Patient Satisfaction
Treatment Options- Non surgical




Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists,
Danazol, Norethindrone, Gestrinone
All acyclic, some high androgen, others high
progesterone, all low estrogen
Negative side effects such as accelerated bone
loss, weight gain, nausea, breakthrough
bleeding
Pain killers (aspirin, morphine, and codeine)
Patient Satisfaction
Statistics







6-58% of infertile women have endometriosis
30-50% of women with endometriosis are infertile (twice the rate of
the general population)
Up to 22% of women have no symptoms
30-50% of women with this disease have had miscarriages
Between 1965-1984 ~2 million US women between ages 25-54
diagnosed received a hysterectomy
Painful disease: 66% of women experience chronic pain
1 out of 10 women from menarche to menopause can be expected
to have some degree of endometriosis EXCEPT women with a
sister, mother, or daughter already diagnosed, then incidences
double to 1 out of 5
Interesting Facts




Men can also develop endometriosis after
prolonged treatments involving synthetic
estrogen
Reported cases in primates such as baboons,
African Green Monkeys, and Rhesus Monkeys
Pharmaceutical companies cashing in on
women’s pain= 3 month “Endometriosis Kit”
$525.95 USD
Endometriosis has been removed from areas
other than the abdomen such as the thigh,
thumb, and knee
Photos

A small adhesion on
an ovary about to be
removed surgically
Photos

Endometriosis
growing on the ovary
and fallopian tube
Photos

Severe endometriosis
on the back of the
uterus causing
adhesions of the
bowel and pelvic
organs
Conclusion



No cure
Disease of ‘coping’
Combination therapy involving surgery,
hormones, and (if needed) assisted
reproduction
Works Cited







Buttram, Veasy C. Jr. et al. Endometriosis: Advanced Management
and Surgical Techniques. New York: Springer-Verlag, 1995.
O’Connor, Daniel T. Endometriosis. London: Churchill Livingstone,
1987.
Shaw, Robert W. Endometriosis: Current Understanding and
Management. London: Blackwell Science Ltd., 1995.
Wilson, Emery A. Endometriosis. New York: Alan R. Liss, 1987.
http://www.endometriosis.org/
http://ladytobaby.com/show.php?cat=38&item=164
www.dictionary.com
Websites

http://ladytobaby.com/show.php?cat=38&item=164

http://www.endo.org.uk/painsurveytoplinepreliminaryresu
lts05.doc