Endometriosis

WHAT IS
ENDOMETRIOSIS ?

WHEN TO SEE YOUR DOCTOR

Please see your family doctor, if you are experiencing the following symptoms:
Abdominal pain and/or pain in pelvis and/or painful bowel movements and/or pain
Endometriosis is the presence
during sex
of endometrial tissue outside of
Difficulty getting pregnant
the uterus. Endometrial tissue
Absence of periods, compared to your regular pattern
found outside the uterus is fully
Painful periods
functional, meaning that it
Endometriosis is
Constipation (difficulty passing stool)
responds normally to hormone
estimated to affect
Unusual vaginal bleeding, compared to your regular
fluctuations during the
approximately
pattern
menstrual cycle. This means
5-10% of women of
Painful urination
that women with endometriosis
reproductive age
Consistent back pain
often have a normal menstrual
cycle, where the endometrial
lining is formed and then shed.
However, the difference
If your family health care provider suspects endometriosis, they may do some or all of the
between women with
following assessments/tests on you:
endometriosis and those that
Thorough past health/medical history, how you manage pain and other relevant
do not, is that the endometrial
questions (e.g. family planning, knowledge about endometriosis)
lining in women with
Pelvic exam/digital vaginal exam: manually feeling for pain and abnormality around
endometriosis has no way to
your pelvic area and inside your vagina
exit the body, as it is on the
Ultrasound: using sound waves to capture an image of your pelvis
outside of the uterus. As a
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): using magnetic waves to capture a more detailed
result, endometrial tissue
image of your pelvis
becomes trapped within the
Laparoscopy: small camera inserted into your abdomen to see any abnormalities
pelvis. This typically causes an
inflammatory response within
the body which often leads to
the experience of severe pain
Treatments to manage the pain caused by endometriosis, and/or to help you to become
and scaring within the pelvis.
pregnant.

DIAGNOSTIC TESTS

TREATMENT

ARE YOU AT RISK?

You are of childbearing age
You have a family history of
endometriosis
You got your period at a
young age and have short/
heavy periods
You are white
You have never given birth
You consume alcohol and/or
caffeine
You have a diet high in fatty
foods
You live an inactive lifestyle
You have a low body mass

Pain management
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): These are drugs commonly used to treat
pain. They are available with to without prescription. E.g. Advil and Aleve.
Hormonal contraceptives: These are drugs that change the levels of certain hormones in
your body, and can also decrease pain caused by endometriosis. E.g. Combination
contraceptive pill, commonly known as the pill.
GnRH Agonists: These medications change levels of hormones in your body and put your
body into an artificial menopause (you will not get your period). They have been shown to
decrease pain caused by endometriosis. Usually, course of treatment is 3-6 months. E.g.
Synarel (Naferelin).
Other options: Additional therapies that can be used in addition to medication to lessen
pain. They include; Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation, Heat therapy, Acupuncture,
Chinese medicine, TENS, Relaxation techniques
Helping you to become pregnant
Treatments such as intrauterine insemination (IUI) and in-vitro fertilization (IVF) can help you
become pregnant with endometriosis.
Surgery
Surgery can be done to remove the endometrial tissue on your organs outside of your uterus.
In cases of severe endometriosis where pain cannot be controlled, you may choose to have
your uterus and ovaries removed.