When we talk about endometriosis, it is usually linked to a women’s disease that occurs inside the uterus or that it can only affect other organs of the female reproductive system. But what most people don’t know is that endometriosis outside the uterus is actually quite common and can reach a large number of organs in a woman’s body, both inside and outside the reproductive system.
But how does this happen? Well, that’s exactly what today’s text will discuss. But first, we need to briefly clarify what endometriosis is so we can talk about the topic in more detail.
What is Endometriosis?
Endometriosis is a condition that affects over 2 million women in Brazil every year. It is a disorder that makes the endometrium, the tissue that lines the inside of a woman’s uterus, grow and spread to other organs.
About 50% of cases of the disease cause women to become infertile, mainly due to damage to the fallopian tubes, which makes it more difficult for the egg and sperm to travel for fertilization to occur.
Infertility, although it is one of the most discussed and well-known consequences of the disease, is not the only one. The consequences vary from case to case, depending on the location and severity of the endometriosis outside the uterus.
How Does Endometriosis Spread?
To understand how the disease spreads, we first need to understand how endometriosis affects a woman’s organs. The endometrium, which is the tissue that lines the uterus, becomes thicker each month so that the fertilized egg can implant there.
It is a natural process of the female reproductive system. When fertilization does not occur, this thicker tissue is expelled through menstruation. The problem arises when some of this blood ends up going the wrong way and splashing onto other organs, which ultimately affects them.
This explains why endometriosis can affect certain organs in the female reproductive system, but it still doesn’t explain how the disease can affect distant organs such as the lungs and even the brain.
The fact is that, contrary to what many people think, the disease does not spread like cancer. That is, the fact that it affects more distant places does not mean it is getting worse. What happens with endometriosis outside the uterus is that many times this tissue is carried by the bloodstream and ends up lodging in organs further away from the uterus.
Main Symptoms of Endometriosis Outside the Uterus
There are different symptoms that can indicate a woman is suffering from endometriosis. Pain during sexual intercourse and infertility occur in the vast majority of cases, usually together, although in some cases there may be just pain or just infertility. But in addition to these two symptoms, we can also identify others that signal the disease, such as:
- Much more intense menstrual cramps
- Fatigue and exhaustion
- Irregular vaginal bleeding
- During pain, nausea and vomiting
- Constipation
- Changes in urination and bowel movements, especially during menstruation
- Severe premenstrual pain
How is the Diagnosis Made?
A woman should see a gynecologist if she notices these symptoms. Some of them may indicate the presence of another issue in the body besides endometriosis, but even so, it is important to do all the tests to be sure of the diagnosis.
The diagnosis of the disease is made based on a few tests. The first and most common is the vaginal exam, which can help your doctor immediately detect any abnormalities, although in many cases, a transvaginal ultrasound is the most appropriate test for a more precise and complete diagnosis.
Which Organs Can Endometriosis Outside the Uterus Affect?
As we mentioned earlier, endometriosis outside the uterus is a disease that can affect not only organs surrounding a woman’s reproductive system but also various others throughout the body. We will talk about the main cases and all the specific details of each one, as well as their symptoms and treatments. They are:
- Endometriosis of the Bladder
- Endometriosis of the Lung
- Endometriosis of the Brain
- Endometriosis of the Sciatic Nerve
- Endometriosis of the Diaphragm
Endometriosis of the Bladder
Endometriosis of the bladder is one of the rarest forms of disease spread, with a woman having at most a 2% chance of developing this problem. Still, it’s important to pay attention to the signs.
The main symptoms are intense pain when urinating, persistent low-grade fever, very frequent trips to the bathroom, and pain during sex. Treatment, in turn, can be done with hormone therapy or even surgery, depending on the case.
Endometriosis of the Lung
Also known as thoracic endometriosis, this type is also rare and can cause a woman to have not only external symptoms, such as coughing up blood, for example, but also symptoms that affect a woman’s psychological side, such as fatigue and even depression. As in other cases, this type of endometriosis outside the uterus can have varied treatments, and it’s up to the doctor to decide the best approach for each case.
Endometriosis of the Brain
This type of endometriosis, like thoracic endometriosis, is considered a deep case. It can affect a woman’s psychological side even more seriously, and the tests that identify the disease may vary because, when a case like this occurs, other diseases are usually suspected, precisely because of the rarity of this kind of endometriosis.
Endometriosis of the Sciatic Nerve
Severe pain in the sciatic nerve, a burning sensation spreading down the legs, frequent cramps, and even muscle atrophy are some of the symptoms that sciatic endometriosis causes. Treatment for this condition does not differ much from the others, as it can range from hormone replacement therapy to surgical procedures, depending on how severe it is.
Endometriosis of the Diaphragm
Endometriosis of the diaphragm is also a rare manifestation of the disease and is usually detected through magnetic resonance imaging. As in other cases, treatment varies according to the severity of the problem.
Endometriosis is the kind of disease that, while it scares many women, is still largely unknown. It’s important to know that endometriosis outside the uterus can happen, and even more important to understand what causes the disease to spread to other organs, so that a woman can know her own body better and prevent this from happening.
No one knows your body better than you do, so you know when something feels wrong and when it’s time to see a doctor about unusual symptoms. Remember: The sooner the disease is identified, the greater the chances of curing it and preventing it from spreading to other organs.
See Also: Endometriosis and Pregnancy – A Dream That Can Come True
Photo: BruceBlaus
