What is endometriosis?
Endometriosis is a disorder in which endometrial tissue (the tissue that lines the inside of the uterus) grows outside your uterus. Endometriosis most commonly involves your ovaries, fallopian tubes, and the tissue lining your pelvis.
Endometriosis symptoms include severe pelvic pain, menstrual cramping, heavy periods, infertility and pain with intercourse.
How do I know if I have endometriosis?
Endometriosis is probably the most misdiagnosed condition in all of women’s health. Diagnosing endometriosis is complicated because the symptoms of endometriosis can often be caused by other conditions.
Laparoscopy is the only way to confirm a diagnosis of endometriosis with 100% accuracy. Other investigations useful in diagnosing endometriosis are ultrasonography and MRI.
How effective is laparoscopic surgery for endometriosis?
The key goals of removing endometriosis tissue growth via a laparoscopic surgical procedure are to help reduce pain and avoid infertility. However, medical treatment remains the first and preferred mode of treatment for endometriosis.
If a laparoscopy (also called keyhole surgery) is performed, a thin, flexible, lighted instrument is inserted into the patients belly to inspect the pelvic organs for signs of endometriosis. The abnormal endometriosis tissues are removed by using special energy devices during surgery and biopsies can be completed.
If an endometrial cyst, also known as an endometrioma, is present it is dealt with by draining the cyst, partially removing it, or completely excising it.
About seven out of ten women report less pain during the first few months following laparoscopy surgery. But it is very important to note that surgery does not cure endometriosis but rather takes out abnormal endometrial tissue from within the pelvis.
Without hormonal suppression therapy, symptoms will return in more than half of these women. Studies have shown that starting hormone therapy — such as birth control pills — after surgery can extend endometriosis pain relief by preventing endometrial tissue from growing back quickly.
