March is Endometriosis Awareness Month, which means it’s the right time to make sure you have the facts about this common women’s health condition.
For example, do you know that pelvic pain is the primary symptom of endometriosis? And do you know that treatment can help relieve endometriosis pain?
Here at Westover Hills Women’s Health in San Antonio, Texas, Dr. Houmam Al-Hakeem, a board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist, is an expert at diagnosing and treating endometriosis. During Endometriosis Awareness Month, we would like to make sure you understand this condition.
Endometriosis occurs when tissue from inside your uterus grows in places where it shouldn’t, such as the outside of your uterus, your ovaries, fallopian tubes, bladder, and even your intestines. (The endometrium is the name of the tissue inside of your uterus.)
At least 11% of women have endometriosis, according to the National Institutes of Health. It is most likely to occur in women in their 30s and 40s.
Like many other gynecological conditions, endometriosis can cause a range of symptoms. The most common is pain.
Pain occurs as a result of inflammation and swelling of the endometrial tissues growing outside your uterus. When you have a period, these tissues bleed just as the tissues inside your uterus bleed. Endometriosis may cause different kinds of pain, including:
In addition to pain, endometriosis may cause one or more of these other symptoms:
Endometrial tissue can contribute to infertility by causing blockages and scar tissue, known as adhesions, in and around your reproductive organs. For example, adhesions may prevent your ovaries from releasing healthy eggs or block your eggs from traveling through your fallopian tubes to your uterus.
Treatment can successfully relieve pain and other endometriosis symptoms. If you’re not trying to get pregnant, hormonal birth control medications can reduce or eliminate symptoms.
If your symptoms are severe or if you’re trying to get pregnant, Dr. Al-Hakeem may recommend surgery to remove endometrial adhesions and scarring. Minimally invasive, robot-assisted laparoscopic procedures provide results with fewer complications, less bleeding, faster recuperation, and smaller incisions than open surgery.
If you’re experiencing pain, heavy periods, trouble getting pregnant, or other gynecological problems, count on Dr. Al-Hakeem to help. He provides a thorough evaluation to determine the cause of your symptoms, and he creates a personalized care plan designed to align with all of your medical and family planning needs.
To schedule a consultation at one of our two San Antonio offices, call us today or make an appointment using our online tool.
