Is Endometriosis Causing Your Painful Periods?

The AHA! Team — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 05:11:17 +0000

Esther L Ellis via Duke Health – If you experience extremely painful periods, don’t ignore it. It’s important to seek care from an obstetrician-gynecologist as these symptoms may signal endometriosis. The painful condition affects an estimated 6.5 million women in the U.S., but is often undiagnosed. That is a concern because endometriosis can cause scarring and inflammation, which can lead to infertility if left untreated. Here, Duke Health minimally invasive gynecology surgeon Amy Broach, MD, answers frequently asked questions about endometriosis including its symptoms, testing, and treatment options. What is endometriosis and why is it painful? During endometriosis, the tissue lining the inside of the uterus — the endometrium — grows outside the uterus where it doesn’t belong. Menstruation occurs when the endometrium responds to hormonal signals, grows and sheds each month. The endometrium outside of the uterus also grows, which can cause painful irritation, inflammation, and scarring. What are the symptoms of endometriosis? The most common symptom is painful periods. “We’re referring to pain where a woman is unable to go to school or work effectively, or they’re taking more pain medications than is appropriate,” said Dr. Broach. Symptoms of endometriosis also include pain during sex, bloating, painful bowel movements, and pain during urination or with a full bladder. It is possible to have endometriosis without symptoms. Does endometriosis cause weight gain? Endometriosis does not directly cause weight gain. However, Dr. Broach said the symptoms of endometriosis can impact a person’s ability to maintain a healthy weight. “Sometimes people in pain seek emotional comfort in food, and do not feel up to physical activity so it’s a complex situation.” How is endometriosis diagnosed? Endometriosis can be investigated with a physical exam or an ultrasound, which may show scarring or an ovarian cyst due to endometriosis. However, mild and even severe endometriosis can have normal ultrasounds depending on where it’s located, which is why the condition is often misdiagnosed. “By the time I see someone, they’ve often seen multiple providers and have been told, ‘Oh, you just have painful periods,’” Dr. Broach said. “If you feel like something is not being addressed, advocate for yourself. Seek an expert in the field. “ If your imaging comes back normal and your doctor still suspects endometriosis, laparoscopy is the next step. What is laparoscopy for endometriosis? Laparoscopy is a minimally invasive surgery used to diagnose and treat endometriosis. It allows your doctor to get a complete view of your pelvic area. During the procedure, your surgeon makes a small incision in the belly button, inflates your abdomen with gas, and inserts a lighted camera through the incision to inspect the pelvic area and appendix. Your surgeon will have a clear view to identify, remove, or destroy endometriosis lesions, cysts, and scar tissue without harming the healthy tissue around it. What are the stages of endometriosis? There are four stages of endometriosis based on how deep the tissue has penetrated, how widespread it is, and where it is located. During stage one, spots of endometriosis are smaller and shallower. Stage four means spots are deeply rooted into the tissue and are usually on important organs like the ovaries, colon, or bladder. Pain is not a consideration when staging endometriosis and a higher stage doesn’t mean your symptoms are more severe. How is endometriosis treated? Birth control pills and over-the-counter anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen are usually tried first. If that doesn’t work, Dr. Broach said progesterone-only hormonal therapy given via pills, injections, or intrauterine devices (IUDs) is typically the next step. “A lot of people respond well to the intrauterine device,” she said. According to Dr. Broach, stronger medications are available for people with more severe endometriosis, which creates a “menopause-like scenario.” “The brain and the ovaries are still talking to each other but at a much lower volume,” she said. These medications are taken by mouth and lower hormone levels to reduce menstrual bleeding and pain. They are tried before the strongest medication used to treat endometriosis, leuprolide. Leuprolide is an injection that completely blocks the communication between the brain and the ovaries, temporarily stopping your periods. Your period will return once you stop taking the medication. Laparoscopic endometriosis surgery is usually preferred for women trying to get pregnant. “Doing surgery and resecting or treating some of the disease increases a woman’s ability to become pregnant for about six months after surgery,” said Dr. Broach. To read the original article click here.

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Kentucky Now to Offer Incisionless Procedure for Uterine Fibroid Relief

The AHA! Team — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 08:41:48 +0000

University of Kentucky via Newswise – UK HealthCare is the first in the state to offer the innovative Sonata® Treatment for women suffering from debilitating symptoms caused by uterine fibroids, including heavy periods.. Fibroids are benign growths in or around the uterus. They are very common in women of child-bearing age and can range in size from a grape to a grapefruit. Nearly 3 out of 4 women in the United States will have uterine fibroids before the age of 50. Not all fibroids require treatment, but symptoms often include heavy menstrual bleeding and painful periods that interfere with daily activities. These symptoms may worsen over time if left untreated. Nearly 3 out of 4 women in the United States will have uterine fibroids before the age of 50 “Fibroids are the most common solid pelvic tumor in women, up to two-thirds of women will have one or more fibroids before menopause, and many are symptomatic,” said Mark R. Hoffman, M.D., chief of the Division of Minimally-Invasive Gynecologic Surgery in the UK College of Medicine and an OB-GYN at UK HealthCare. “We see hundreds of patients with fibroids every year in our Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery clinic every year.” According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, more than 200,000 women each year are treated for uterine fibroids with the most common and surgical solution, a hysterectomy, which is a significant surgical procedure to remove the entire uterus. Traditionally, fibroids are treated with minimally invasive procedures such as hysterectomy or myomectomy, but a new, less invasive procedure may be an option for those seeking relief. Transcervical fibroid ablation (TFA) is a less invasive alternative to a hysterectomy or myomectomy. The fibroids are treated inside the uterus, so there are no incisions or scars. The Sonata® System, used in TFA, combines real-time ultrasound imaging with targeted radiofrequency ablation. One by one, the fibroids are targeted and reduced in size, preserving the healthy uterine tissue and providing quick, long-lasting relief. In a clinical trial, the Sonata Treatment was proven to reduce symptoms while getting half of the treated women back to their normal activities the next day. Average return to activity was two days. TFA can be used to treat almost all symptomatic uterine fibroids. This brief, outpatient procedure preserves the uterus and does not require an incision or anesthesia. Patients can return to work and activities in days, not weeks; much sooner than with traditional surgical procedures. More than 200,000 women each year are treated for uterine fibroids “This is a new, novel procedure that provides an alternative to hysterectomy, is outpatient with a same day discharge and has minimal recovery,” said Hoffman. “Patients can be back to full activity in a matter of a few days.” For more information about the Sonata® System and uterine fibroid relief, contact the UK HealthCare Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic and schedule an appointment with one of the following providers: UK HealthCare is the hospitals and clinics of the University of Kentucky. But it is so much more. It is more than 10,000 dedicated health care professionals committed to providing advanced subspecialty care for the most critically injured and ill patients from the Commonwealth and beyond. It also is the home of the state’s only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated cancer center, a Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit that cares for the tiniest and sickest newborns, the region’s only Level 1 trauma center and Kentucky’s top hospital ranked by U.S. News & World Report. As an academic research institution, we are continuously pursuing the next generation of cures, treatments, protocols and policies. Our discoveries have the potential to change what’s medically possible within our lifetimes. Our educators and thought leaders are transforming the health care landscape as our six health professions colleges teach the next generation of doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other health care professionals, spreading the highest standards of care. UK HealthCare is the power of advanced medicine committed to creating a healthier Kentucky, now and for generations to come. To read the original article click here.

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Is Endometriosis Causing Your Painful Periods?

Kentucky Now to Offer Incisionless Procedure for Uterine Fibroid Relief