She made great albums, went on tours and did concerts during the peak of her career. But Cyndi Lauper is just one of the many women who have Endometriosis. Because of her condition, she would be doing albums and going to the hospital after, and continue this cycle.
It might sound foreign, let alone scary, but any skilled Obstetrician-Gynecologist (OB-GYN) in Pleasant Grove, Provo, or Orange County would be able to assess your symptoms and diagnose you properly. Think you might be like Cyndi Lauper? Have a closer look at the condition to know if you should seek professional medical help.
What is Endometriosis?
Endometriosis is a painful condition that happens when tissues which are supposedly in the uterus, particularly the endometrium, are found outside of it (i.e. ovaries, fallopian tube, and other pelvic linings). It is a condition heavily affected by a woman’s menstrual cycle.
These tissues found in the uterus are shed off monthly in the form of periods. But because they are placed in a different location, there is no way to expel these tissues out of the body completely. Because of this, it becomes trapped. In cases where endometriosis tissues are found in the ovary, these trapped tissues accumulate and form a cyst known as Endometrioma. Regardless of its location, these tissues can become irritated and triggered during a woman’s menstrual cycle, causing pain and eventually develop scar tissues and abnormal bands of fibroid tissues. These causes organs to stick to each other and form adhesions.
Women who are suffering from Endometriosis experience severe pain (dysmenorrhea) during their periods. Infertility is also a problem faced by many. But because dysmenorrhea is common to women of child-bearing age, a lot of doctors dismiss it like that. Pelvic pain is the most common symptom of the condition. But others experience it along with severe back pains, nausea, digestive problems, and heavy bleeding among others. A person with Endometriosis experience these symptoms and more making them unable to function normally for days, or weeks. Others who have Endometriosis do not experience any pain at all.
How can it be managed?
Once diagnosed, the doctor would work on alleviating the symptoms, most usually the pain, brought by the condition. Taking NSAIDs to help keep the pain at bay, using hot packs, getting alternative treatments like acupuncture, and changing one’s diet and lifestyle can make a difference. For others, laparoscopic surgery to remove the cyst and the tissues are done. This method provides a permanent solution for some, but others have to do it again because the tissues come back. Then, there are others who opt to go for the total removal of the reproductive organs known as hysterectomy, to permanently remove the pain.
Infertility treatments are also common. Procedures to help a woman get pregnant naturally or with the help of medicine are done. Luckily, about 50% of women with the condition are still able to conceive and have children.
Do you or anyone from your family or friends suffer from such symptoms? Seek professional medical help and have it properly diagnosed so it can be appropriately managed early on.
