Understanding Endometriosis

To highlight our recent guest, Dr. Thomas Lyons of DeKalb Medical, we thought it fitting to discuss a condition the esteemed doctor specializes in: endometriosis.

For a long time, women with endometriosis were written off by doctors and were told the severe pain they experienced during menstruation was nothing out of the ordinary. Though many doctors still don’t have extensive knowledge about the disorder that affects nearly five million women in the United States, at least now the condition is taken much more seriously.

Endometriosis is a disorder in which the tissue that normally lines the inside of the uterus grows outside of the uterus and onto other organs in the body. These growths, while benign, can cause excruciating pain in the affected individual. To understand why the condition is so painful, one must have an understanding of the menstrual cycle. Each month before a woman experiences menstruation, hormones cause the uterus to build up with tissue and blood vessels. The uterus then sheds the tissue and vessels, and they exit the body through menstruation. If a woman has endometriosis, the tissue that has grown outside of the uterus and onto other organs of the body has no way to exit the body. It becomes trapped, and can lead to the formation of painful cysts.

The precise cause of endometriosis is unknown and while endometriosis cannot be entirely cured, the symptoms can be treated with medication or, in some cases, surgery. If you think you may have endometriosis, it is important to visit your primary care doctor or obstetrician immediately. Outside of seeking medical assistance, it may also be helpful to join a support group where you can discuss your pain and problems with women experiencing similar symptoms. Visit http://endometriosis.org/support/support-groups/ to find one near your area.

If you have any questions about endometriosis or any other urological condition, feel free to reach out to us at [email protected]. For more interesting medical insights, tune in to the Weekly Check-Up at 750 AM this Sunday afternoon to hear from Dr. Thomas Lyons.