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| Abdominal pain is normal during menstruation |
A little abdominal pain or cramps and you feel less energetic around menstruation is normal. Severe abdominal pain that interferes with daily activities, or so you can barely get out of bed, however, is not normal . Especially if the pain does not go away with a painkiller or if you also have pain when taking the pill.
Are you in that case, you see the best physician. Maybe you have endometriosis.
It is estimated that more than one woman on 10th between 15 and 50 years in varying degrees of endometriosis suffer. The average age of endometriosis patients is becoming lower. Research at the KU Leuven shows that 1 in 20 young girls in secondary schools have very painful periods, which will not go with regular painkillers. Possibly would have about 60 to 70% of these girls endometriosis.
What is endometriosis?
Endometriosis is a common chronic disease in which the type of mucosal tissue that normally lines the inside of the uterus (endometrium), also prevents outside the uterus. For example, in the abdominal cavity, in the ovaries, between the uterus and the bladder or the rectum, in the intestinal wall, or in the bladder, deep in the wall of the uterus itself ...
Under the influence of hormones is believed that some thicker endometrium each month in order to make possible a pregnancy. You are not pregnant, then the accumulated mucus is broken down and disposed of.
Also, the pieces of mucosa which are located outside of the uterus, every month to grow and break down. This results in small hemorrhages in the abdominal cavity, the ovaries and so forth, which are not such as the menstrual blood can be discharged via the vagina. This gives irritation and inflammation of the peritoneum, or the organs to which they are sitting on.
Also, small scars and adhesions and called adhesions can arise between institutions. Over time, there may be a chronic inflammation of the foci of endometriosis arise.
The ovaries can also cavities (cysts) filled with old blood are formed. Such cysts are called endometriomas or "chocolate cysts" because of their dark brown color. This would occur in approximately 10% of the women with endometriosis.
When the uterine lining penetrate deep into the surrounding tissue (eg. The intestinal lining, straps of the uterus, muscles etc.), one speaks of deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE). That is the most severe form of endometriosis.
Symptoms that may indicate endometriosis
The symptoms vary according to the place where prevent the endometriosis lesions. The symptoms usually are cyclical and intensify during menstruation (under the influence of estrogen). They begin a few days before menstruation and stop when menstruation is done every month again. Over time, the duration of the symptoms can be longer.
Do you have any of these symptoms, consult your doctor or gynecologist best. Early detection and diagnosis is of great importance for a good treatment and preservation of fertility.
Endometriosis can also give no symptoms and only being detected as a torque fails to get spontaneous children.
• Painful menstruation (dysmenorrhea)
Endometriosis may abdominal pain just before, during and immediately after the cause periods. The pain is usually described as stabbing and persistent, as a sort of cramp. They hardly rings with painkillers.
Initially there is only pain during menstruation, but after a while the pain may still occur earlier. Sometimes even chronic pain that lasts all the time and that worsens during menstruation.
'Chocolate cysts' in the ovaries, which are filled with blood, may rupture and over time acute severe abdominal pain cause.
In addition to the abdominal pain may also be in the low back and thigh pain occur.
• Many or irregular bleeding
A lot of blood loss and / or irregular periods. Also repeated breakthrough bleeding while using the pill may indicate endometriosis.
• Fatigue, lethargy around and during menstruation
• Pain during intercourse (dyspareunia)
Pain deep in the abdomen or vagina occurs during or immediately after intercourse. It is caused by endometriosis spots around the top of the vagina and possibly also by inflammation of the peritoneum. Especially the knocks of the penis is painful. Pain at the entrance to the vagina usually has a different cause.
• Intestinal Problems
If endometriosis is located in the gut, problems with the bowel movement can occur, such as difficult and / or painful defecation, constipation or diarrhea, cramps ... Upon ingrowth of endometriosis under the intestinal mucosa, blood loss may occur from the anus. This often occurs during menstruation, but sometimes beyond.
Usually, bleeding from the anus another cause, such as hemorrhoids.
• Urinary symptoms
Urinary symptoms, such as painful urination or frequent insistence, may have to deal with endometriosis, but often have a different cause. Sometimes there is ingrowth of mucous membrane in the bladder. The urine may be bloody during menstruation.
• Reduced fertility
Endometriosis is a major cause of reduced fertility. Nearly half of all women who end up in hospital with fertility problems, appears to have endometriosis.
Which does not mean that endometriosis is always associated with reduced fertility or infertility. Studies show that sooner or later get pregnant about 6 to 7 out of 10 women with endometriosis.
applies in general, the more severe and the more extensive the endometriosis, the less likely that you are pregnant without medical help. In ovarian cysts and deep endometriosis the risk of infertility is very large.