How Serious Is Endometriosis?

Introduction

Millions of women worldwide suffer from the painful condition of endometriosis. Endometriosis occurs when endometrium-like (inner lining of the uterus) tissue grows outside the uterus in to areas like ovaries, abdomen, and bowel. This may lead to excruciating pain, cramping, bleeding, stomach issues, and other symptoms.

Endometriosis can be the reason for several medical conditions that can become fatal if not treated on time. Keep reading to know more about this condition and its possible complications.

What is endometriosis?

Endometriosis is a commonly occurring condition seen in women, where the tissue of the uterus lining grows outside the womb and causes pelvic pain and difficulty in achieving pregnancy.

The endometrium is another term used for the inner lining of the uterus. In endometriosis, the cells of the endometrium grow outside the womb. Endometriosis is commonly seen in the ovaries, fallopian tubes, the bowel, and the areas in the front, sides, and back of the uterus.

Complications of Endometriosis

Endometriosis can sometimes result in serious complications, which can also be life-threatening. Here are some of the potential complications seen in endometriosis:

Chronic pain:

Endometriosis can be a major cause of pain in the areas it affects and beyond. The growing endometriotic lesion can be extremely painful. Pain is mainly experienced during periods. 

The pain is felt in the lower abdomen and may radiate to the back and other areas where the lesion has spread. It may subside after menopause. Treating endometriosis may help relieve pain. 

Infertility

Endometriosis can cause various fertility problems, as this condition can damage the fallopian tubes or ovaries. But not all women diagnosed with endometriosis will have this problem and will eventually get pregnant without treatment.

Medication does not improve fertility. Surgery is recommended to remove visible patches of endometriosis tissue, but there’s no guarantee this will help achieve pregnancy.

Infertility treatments, such as in-vitro fertilization (IVF), may be an option if you’re having difficulty getting pregnant. Women with moderate-to-severe endometriosis have a chance of getting pregnant with IVF.

Ectopic pregnancy

An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg gets implanted outside the uterus, usually within the fallopian tube, which may rupture the fallopian tube and lead to internal bleeding.

Women with endometriosis have a high chance of developing an ectopic pregnancy.

Symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy include:

• Missed period
• Abnormal vaginal bleeding.
• Mild cramping occurs on one side of the pelvis
• Lower back pain

Adhesions and ovarian cysts

Some women with endometriosis may develop:

Adhesion are sticky patches of endometriosis tissue that can join organs together.
Ovarian cysts or chocolate cysts are the fluid-filled/blood-filled cysts formed inside the ovaries that tend to become very large and painful.

These types of cysts can occur if the endometriosis tissue is inside or near the ovaries. These cysts can cause pelvic pain, painful sex, and irregular or heavy periods. They can be surgically removed but may reoccur in the future if the endometriosis returns.

Bladder and bowel problems

The endometriosis tissue can grow in the intestines and bladder in 3 to 37 percent of women with the condition.

The tissue can cause bleeding and scarring in rare cases, leading to intestinal obstruction (blockage of the intestine) or bladder obstruction.

A small bowel obstruction can show signs of stomach pain, nausea, and problems passing gas or stool, whereas a bladder obstruction can lead to pain while passing urine.

An untreated bowel obstruction can cause pressure to build up, resulting in a bowel perforation (a hole in the bowel). A blockage can also decrease blood supply to the intestines and bladder. Both can be fatal and require immediate surgery to remove the affected part.

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Conclusion

While endometriosis is a harrowing condition that affects your quality of life, it’s still not considered a fatal disease. In infrequent instances, however, complications of endometriosis can lead to life-threatening problems.

Treating endometriosis on time can help reduce the risks of these potential complications. Talk to a doctor about all possible complications and ways to minimize them.

Here at Gunjan IVF World, we offer a wide range of treatment options, surgeries, and medical therapies to ensure the health and well-being of our patients. We have helped hundreds of women manage their endometriosis symptoms and reclaim a healthy lifestyle with the help of our highly qualified and experienced gynecologists.

We have one of the best Endometriosis Doctors in Delhi, India. If you have concerns about endometriosis and its complications, connect with our specialist now!