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  • Endometriosis
    Endometriosis affects 176 million women worldwide. Endometriosis usually causes symptoms during reproductive years (~12-60 years old. Many women and girls are often undiagnosed. Endometriosis affects women equally across all racial/ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds.
Submitted by Sanjog bhagat on 11 August 2017

Diagnosis

Endometriosis cannot be diagnosed based on symptoms alone; it has to be supplemented with a pelvic examination, pelvic ultrasound, laparoscopy and MRI.

  • Pelvic examination: The pelvic examination has poor sensitivity in the diagnosis of endometriosis, but some findings of the physician may suspect endometriosis, like a tender nodule behind the cervix during a combined vaginal and rectal exam, or the uterus may be tilted back or retroverted. Occasionally, endometriosis implants may be visible in the vagina or the cervix.
  • Ultrasound: Transvaginalultrasonography may reveal large endometriotic cysts (such as endometrial), but smaller endometriosis implants cannot be visualized.
  • Laparoscopy: Laparoscopy is an outpatient surgical procedure where a camera is inserted into the abdomen through a small incision near the navel to see the pelvic organs and look for endometriosis. The extent of endometriosis is evaluated through a clinical staging system.
  • MRI: MRI helps in detection of even very small lesions and it can distinguish the hemorrhagic signal of endometriotic lesions due to its very high spatial resolution. MR imaging has high specificity for identifying endometriomas and correlating the imaging features of endometriotic lesions with their laparoscopic appearances may help in improving the diagnosis of endometriosis.
Condition

Stories

  • Endometriosis Overview
    What is endometriosis Endometriosis is a gynecological condition in which endometrial tissue (tissue that lines the uterus wall) is found outside the uterus (often referred to as endometrial implants). This is mostly found in the peritoneum (membrane that lines abdominal cavity and surrounds internal organs), ovaries, fallopian tubes, ureters, bladder, bowel and cul-de-sac (the space behind the uterus). Endometrial tissue in the uterus is under the influence of oestrogen (a female hormone).…
  • Prevention of Endometriosis
    Prevention You can't prevent endometriosis. But you can work towards reducing your chances of developing it by lowering the levels of the hormone estrogen in your body. Estrogen helps to thicken the lining of your uterus during your menstrual cycle. To keep lower estrogen levels in your body, you can: Talk to your doctor about hormonal birth control methods, such as pills, patches or rings with lower doses of estrogen. Exercise regularly (more than 4 hours a week). Avoid large…
  • Management of Endometriosis
    Management You can manage your endometriosis by lowering the levels of the hormone estrogen in your body. Estrogen helps to thicken the lining of your uterus during your menstrual cycle. To keep lower estrogen levels in your body, you can: Exercise regularly (more than 4 hours a week). This will also help you lower body fat which helps decrease the amount of estrogen circulating through the body. Avoid large amounts of alcohol.  Alcohol raises estrogen levels. Limit to one drink per…
  • Image shows a women holding a brush with clumps of hair during PCOS
    How Do I Deal With PCOS?
    Could Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) be the cause of your hair loss or excessive facial hair? If it isn't treated or the underlying causes not addressed, over time it can lead to infertility, diabetes and heart disease. Obstetrician & gynaecologist Dr. Chandan Dubey advises on the key treatments for PCOS: What is the first line of treatment for most PCOS patients? PCOS is characterised by and diagnosed when two of the following 3 features are seen in a woman: Menstrual cycles coming at…
  • Women discuss endometriosis: 'No one believed I could be in such pain from a period'
    Although an estimated 176 million women around the world suffer from the‘secret plague’, too few primary care doctors know how to diagnose it and the specialists to whom they are sent are ill-informed. Read here about Endometriosis The Guardian’s coverage struck a chord with sufferers who too often spent years searching for a diagnosis. Although women will often find themselves with a prescription for the contraceptive pill, far too many are sent away by a doctorwho tells them it’s all in…
  • Endometriosis is more than just 'period pain' for women
    Women with endometriosis commonly experience very painful periods and painful sex which can lead to infertility - but there's a long and worrying delay in diagnosis. Women with endometriosis commonly experience very painful periods and painful sex. Some will also have pelvic pain which can last throughout the cycle. Bowel symptoms, such as bloating and diarrhoea, are common and are often put down to irritable bowel syndrome. Symptoms of bladder irritation are experienced by two-thirds of…
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    Are Birth Control Pills Safe?
    Dr Shital Patel answers all that you want to know about oral contraceptives, how they work, when you should use them, side effects, do they increase the risk of cancer? What are Oral Contraceptives? Oral contraceptives are hormonal preparations that may contain progesterone or combination of oestrogen and progestin. The combination drug prevents pregnancy by inhibiting the release of the hormones - luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) from the pituitary…