Endometriosis is a painful medical condition that affects a woman’s reproductive system. The number one characteristic of this condition is chronic pelvic pain, and women are wondering how to get rid of this problem.
Further Explanation
Endometriosis is a condition named after the area of the uterus that it affects-the endometrium, which is the name for the lining of tissue that is located inside the uterus. During a normal menstrual cycle the walls of the uterus begins to thicken, and then it is shed out of the body.
However, sometimes the endometrial tissue of a woman is not included in the uterus but rather in another area of the body. For instance, this mass of tissue might be located on an ovary or the intestines or somewhere outside the uterus, and thus is trapped in the body and could cause cyst growth.
Other complications occur, which lead to intense pelvic pain and inability to bear children. The causes of this condition are still very much misunderstood but the possibility of treatment does exist.
Treatment Overview
It is possible to correct endometriosis via surgery. The estimated cure rate according to some medical professionals and researchers is about 60%.
However, surgical treatment of course is very risky and there is still many unanswered questions about the validity of surgical treatment for this condition. Therefore, many of the ways of supposedly getting rid of endometriosis really center on using medications to maintain the pain levels.
Oftentimes some kind of pain killer such as extra-strength ibuprofen or naproxen sodium is used. Even stronger medications could be administered if other medicines do not work, after complete and thorough examination and monitoring.
Other forms of therapy help slow or stop the increase of endometrial tissue outside the uterus. One way to take care of this problem would be to use what is known as hormone suppression therapy. A related treatment involves using hormonal contraceptives taken over a number of months or years.
Again, surgical treatments are also an option and can possibly even increase a woman’s chance of getting pregnant. This often is done via laparoscopic surgery but it may also involve the use of a conventional, more invasive knife surgery.
Sometimes in the worst of cases the ovaries of a woman must be removed. In other words a hysterectomy is performed. This is a method of treatment that should be considered very carefully as it can affect a woman emotionally and hormonally.
After all, when a woman receives a hysterectomy there is pretty much not much of a chance that she is going to be able to bear a child. This in and itself can be at least temporarily devastating to a woman.
One deciding factor besides whether or not the woman would be capable of having children would be personal safety. In most cases endometriosis is not fatal. However, it can be a condition that is very hard to live with and some women might want to put their own lives ahead of trying to have a baby.
After all, the risks of fatality may increase after a woman with endometriosis tries to conceive and carry a child full term. Therefore, some women may have to grieve the possibility of having a biological child and instead think about adopting.
Alternative Therapies
Alternative therapies cannot cure endometriosis, but some may relieve cramps and other symptoms.
Acupuncture And Acupressure
The methods that relieve menstrual pain can also be helpful for endometriosis. Some women report success using a rubber stimulating device that, when strapped around an ankle, presses upon an acupressure point used in treating urinary and genital problems.
Aromatherapy
Massages or baths that incorporate juniper, peppermint, or marjoram oil are advocated to relieve menstrual pain. These oils may also be ingested as a tea, or added to a glass of honey and water. The usual dosage is I to 3 drops of the oil in a cup of water taken two or three times a day.
Herbal Medicine
Valerian extract, tea, or capsules are recommended for relieving menstrual cramps, and may also help endometriosis. The herbal section of many health food stores carries special preparations for menstrual pain that contain dong quai, pennyroyal, and vitex. Also recommended are white willow capsules; these contain salicylic acid, a painkiller similar to aspirin, but they are not as likely to cause stomach upset and other adverse side effects.
Yoga
The knee to chest position, deep breathing, and other relaxation methods may be helpful in relieving pain associated with endometriosis.
Self Treatment
Heat, in the form of a hot bath or a heating pad, often eases the pain of endometriosis. Massaging the area may also help. Some women benefit from over the counter pain relievers, such as aspirin, acetaminophen, and ibuprofen