Endometriosis
Endometriosis is an gynacological disease in which the cells and layer of tissue that resembling endometrium (the lining of the uterus) grow outside of it, for example in the ovaries and fallopian tubes. This causes chronic inflammation that can result in scar tissue (adhesions, fibrosis), especially in the pelvis. Endometriosis is a potential co-morbidity of chronic fatigue syndrome.[1][2]
Endometriosis can affect teenagers as well as older adults, and is a long term condition. It is estimated to affect around 10% of women (people assigned female at birth), particularly during their reproductive years.[2]
Lesions[edit | edit source]
Lesions in endometriosis may occur on the ovaries, recto-vaginal septum, bladder, and bowel. In rare cases, endometriosis has also been found outside the pelvis.[1]
Signs and symptoms[edit | edit source]
Endometriosis symptoms may include:
- Dysmenorrhea
- Heavy or irregular bleeding
- Pelvic pain
- Lower abdominal pain or back pain
- Dyspareunia
- Dyschezia (pain on defecation) - Often with cycles of diarrhea and constipation
- Bloating, nausea, and vomiting
- Inguinal pain
- Pain during urinartion and/or urinary frequency
- Pain during exercise
- Pain during sex
- Fertility problems
- Depression or anxiety[1][2][3]
One third of women with endometriosis have no symptoms.[1][2][3]
Co-morbidities[edit | edit source]
ME/CFS[edit | edit source]
Patients with ME/CFS may have higher rates of gynecologic disorders including endometriosis, ovarian cysts, polycystic ovaries, uterine fibroids, menstrual abnormalities and galactorrhea.[4]
A 2018 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated that more than a third of women with CFS (36.1%) reported endometriosis as a comorbid condition. Women with both CFS and endometriosis report more chronic pelvic pain, earlier menopause, hysterectomy, and more CFS-related symptoms compared to women with CFS-only.[5] Sinali et al (2002) also found high rates of chronic fatigue syndrome in endometriosis patients.[6]
Fibromyalgia[edit | edit source]
Sinali et al (2002) found people with endometriosis had high rates of fibromyalgia.[6]
Other comorbidities[edit | edit source]
Sinali et al (2002) also found people with endometriosis often had autoimmune diseases, endocrine (hormone) diseases, and atopic or allergy-related conditions.[6]
Treatments[edit | edit source]
Treatments include:
- Contraceptive steroids
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
- Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists, which reduce estrogen llevels
- Infertility treatments
- Surgery may sometimes be used to remove endometriosis lesions, adhesions, and scar tissue[7]
Research studies[edit | edit source]
- 2019, Endometriosis as a Comorbid Condition in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS): Secondary Analysis of Data from a CFS Case-Control study[5]
- 2002, High rates of autoimmune and endocrine disorders, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and atopic diseases among women with endometriosis: A survey analysis[6] - (Abstract)
News and articles[edit | edit source]
See also[edit | edit source]
Learn more[edit | edit source]
- Endometriosis factsheet - World Health Organization
- Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists - Endometriosis.org
- Endometriosis - NHS
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 World Health Organization. "Endometriosis". World Health Organization. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Endometriosis". National Health Service. October 20, 2017. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Davila, G. Willy (December 5, 2017). "Endometriosis". Medscape.
- ↑ Harlow, BL (September 28, 1998). "Reproductive correlates of chronic fatigue syndrome". American Journal of Medicine.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Boneva, Roumiana S.; Lin, Jin-Mann S.; Wieser, Friedrich; Nater, Urs M.; Ditzen, Beate; Taylor, Robert N.; Unger, Elizabeth R. (April 2018). "Endometriosis as a Comorbid Condition in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS): Secondary Analysis of Data from a CFS Case-Control study". Frontiers in Pediatrics. doi:10.3389/fped.2019.00195.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Sinaii, N.; Cleary, S. D.; Ballweg, M. L.; Nieman, L. K.; Stratton, P. (October 2002). "High rates of autoimmune and endocrine disorders, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome and atopic diseases among women with endometriosis: a survey analysis". Human Reproduction (Oxford, England). 17 (10): 2715–2724. doi:10.1093/humrep/17.10.2715. ISSN 0268-1161. PMID 12351553.
- ↑ "GnRH". Endometriosis.org. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
