Endometriosis is a painful disorder in which tissue that looks like the endometrium, the lining of the uterus, grows in places where it shouldn’t. Ovaries, fallopian tubes, and the pelvic lining are typical sites of endometriosis tissue involvement. Even more rarely, endometrial-like tissue can be discovered outside the pelvic region.

The signs associated with endometriosis include a combination of:

• Painful periods
• Chronic pelvic pain
• Pain during or after sexual intercourse
• Painful bowel movements
• Painful urination
• Fatigue
• Depression or anxiety
• Abdominal bloating and nausea

As you start noticing the signs, seek help from an endometriosis treatment specialist in Rwanda to ensure you receive the treatment on time.

What are the causes that can lead to endometriosis?

Retrograde or Reverse endometriosis:

This widely held belief postulates that during menstruation, endometrial cells and blood from the uterus make their way down the fallopian tubes and into the pelvic cavity. Endometrial cells adhere to the pelvis lining, where they multiply and bleed regularly throughout a woman’s menstrual cycle. All women experience reverse menstruation to some extent, but only a minority of women go on to develop endometriosis.

Cellular metaplasia:

A process that occurs when cells undergo morphological change. Endometrial-like cells begin to increase and transform cells outside the uterus. The disease starts in the stem cells and travels through the body’s circulatory and lymphatic systems.

The best treatment that is available to treat endometriosis in Rwanda:

While endometriosis cannot be cured, its symptoms, like pain and infertility, can be managed. Also, speak to the doctor to understand the endometriosis surgery cost to know your options.

When deciding how to treat endometriosis symptoms best, medical professionals take a number of things into account.

• Your age
• How severe your symptoms are
• How severe the disease is
• Whether you want children

However, not every woman with endometriosis will benefit equally from every therapy option. It’s also possible for endometriosis symptoms to return after the medication is discontinued or, in the case of surgery, after a certain amount of time has passed.

Hormone therapy:

Hormones are useful in treating endometriosis symptoms because they trigger a menstrual-like cycle in endometriosis patches. Some hormones may also influence how we feel pain.

Pain from endometriosis can be alleviated with hormone therapy. Hormones can be taken orally, intravenously, or by a nasal spray.

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) suppresses estrogen production and stops ovulation in its tracks. As a result, the endometrium and endometrial lesions could expand and become less active locally. Adhesions are avoided throughout treatment; however, this does not mean they disappear entirely.

Pain-relief medications:

In the case of minor pain or other symptoms, pain medication may be an effective treatment option. These drugs can range from those available without a prescription to those requiring one.

The usefulness of these drugs in treating the pain caused by endometriosis is not well established. Knowing what medications work best for relieving endometriosis pain may help researchers better understand the condition and its painful symptoms.

As endometriosis can significantly affect fertility in women apart from IVF, women can also choose
IUI treatment in Rwanda.

Surgical treatment for endometriosis:

Laparoscopy:

In cases of minor or mild endometriosis, where ultrasound scans may be normal, surgery may help in the diagnosis. Many patients get relief from endometriosis discomfort after undergoing surgery, which is offered alongside hormonal therapies. 

Laparoscopy (keyhole surgery) is used to treat endometriosis. During this procedure, a small telescope is put into the abdomen to locate the endometriosis, and other devices are used to remove or remove the endometriosis. Ablation (in which the endometriosis cells are destroyed using diathermy) or excision (in which the endometrial tissue is removed via cutting) are two standard treatment options. The surgeon decides which method to use based on the nature and extent of the lesion.

Hysterectomy: 

Hysterectomy (the removal of the uterus, cervix, and fallopian tubes) with or without removal of the ovaries may be considered for a subset of women with severe symptoms that have not responded to medication or other surgical treatment. 

As a result, the recovery time is greater than with laparoscopy for endometriosis therapy alone, even though the procedure is performed through a smaller incision. As part of this process, it is common to address underlying conditions that may be causing uterine pain (such as adenomyosis) and to eliminate any potential triggers for the recurrence of endometriosis.

Can endometriosis go away without treatment?

Endometriosis can sometimes go away on its own. Lesions from endometriosis can sometimes get smaller over time, and you may have less of them. This can also happen after menopause, usually caused by a drop in estrogen levels.

Endometriosis must be treated repeatedly for many people to keep pain and other symptoms under control. It’s important to keep regular appointments with your endometriosis treatment specialist so that you can work with them to take care of your condition in the long run.

What complications will follow if endometriosis is not treated in time?

Over time, cysts, adhesions, and scar tissue can form from the endometrial-like tissue that grows outside your uterus. This can make you feel pain for a long time, especially when you have your period. People who have endometriosis may also find it hard to get pregnant. This can sometimes be helped by endometriosis treatment.

As you get older and go through menopause, your symptoms may improve. This has to do with the changes in hormones in your body during menopause.

Is there prevention for endometriosis?

Endometriosis isn’t always something you can avoid. There are some things that can make it less likely that you will get endometriosis, but in some cases, you may still get it. Endometriosis could happen to some people because of their genes. If your mother or grandmother has been diagnosed with endometriosis, talk to your doctor about how likely you will also get it. If you are someone with endometriosis, seek endometriosis treatment in Rwanda to avoid complications.

Outlook of the condition:

Endometriosis is a condition that can result in persistent pain, abnormally heavy periods, and problems conceiving. Working with your healthcare practitioner is the best way to handle these symptoms. If you notice any endometriosis symptoms or have unusual or painful periods, talk to your provider. You can enhance your quality of life and learn to live with endometriosis with the help of available treatments.