The importance of Reproductive Medicine today
Nowadays, we all have family or friends who have undoubtedly had to resort to assisted reproduction to achieve a pregnancy. It is even quite likely that many of you who are reading this have gone through treatment yourselves or are thinking of visiting a specialist.
Endometriosis: what are its main symptoms and treatment?
Currently, endometriosis affects 1 in 10 women during their reproductive years. While the exact origin is uncertain and it is a relatively unknown disease, its symptoms are evident in many women and can even hinder the daily life of those who suffer from it.
Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a chronic and benign inflammatory disease, characterized by the presence of endometrial cells (cells that form the lining uterus, known as endometrium) in the abdominal cavity. Most of the times, it is a condition that cause abdominal and pelvic pain and possible infertility. Normally, it can affect about 10% of women in reproductive age, worldwide. In Spain there are 5 million carriers of endometriosis and in Andalusia up to 850 thousand.
About 50% of women with endometriosis have trouble having a baby
Endometriosis is a disease caused by the presence of the endometrium (the layer that lines the uterus inside and where the embryo must nest), outside its normal location: in the ovaries, pelvis, etc. The endometrium is responsible for menstrual bleeding (every 28 days, if it is not nested by an embryo, it is expelled with menstruation); but when it is out of its normal location, it produces small bleeds that give rise to the so-called “chocolate cysts” in the ovaries, as well as inflammatory phenomena (pain), when it is in the pelvis or other locations
Endometriosis, a disease that can affect fertility
Endometriosis is a disease that affects 1 in 10 women of childbearing age. Painful periods and infertility are the main symptoms that can lead to this diagnosis, and other more specific tests such as biopsy. Although endometriosis can be a symptom of infertility, only 20-30% of women suffering from endometriosis have difficulty getting pregnant.