New research shows a new risk for endometriosis
endometriosis
is often a painful disorder where tissue from inside the uterus
(endometrium) grows outside the uterus. It’s call retrograde
menstruation. It usually attaches to the ovaries, bowel, or lining of
the pelvis, but has also been known to reach as far as the liver, and
even the lungs.
Usually the risk factors for endometriosis include:
One or more relatives with the condition
Never giving birth
Short menstrual cycles - short bleeding times History of pelvic infection
However, recent research shows a new risk for endometriosis.
The
researchers identified 37,661 women who had been hospitalized for
endometriosis over a 30 year period. The selected women were then
followed until diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease or data was no
longer available.
Overall, Jess and colleagues found an increased
risk of developing inflammatory bowel disease for women who had
endometriosis as demonstrated by a standardized incidence ratio of 1.5.
This amounts to a 50% increase in the risk for inflammatory bowel
disease among this patient population.
"The risk of IBD
[inflammatory bowel disease] in women with endometriosis was increased
even in the long term, hence suggesting a genuine association between
the diseases," Jess and colleagues concluded, adding, "This may either
reflect common immunological features or an impact of endometriosis
treatment with oral contraceptives on risk of IBD."
Because of the
possible link between treatment of endometriosis and the risk of
developing inflammatory bowel disease, the researchers agreed that
further study is warranted. Moreover, since these diseases have an
apparent overlap, careful diagnostic work-up should be completed when
patients present with persisting abdominal or gynecological symptoms.
A
number of treatment options for endometriosis are available depending
on the severity of your condition. In severe cases, surgery may be
necessary. Laparoscopic surgery is the more conservative route and can
help a woman trying to get pregnant. In extreme cases, though, a
hysterectomy may be needed.
Avoid narcotic medications, since this
can be a chronic disease, the chance of dependence is considered high.
Get a second opinion prior to any surgery to ensure you have made an
informed decision. And if you plan on getting pregnant, consider taking
Fuyan Pill early, waiting too long might make the process much more
difficult.