What We Offer Book Session
This one of the most ill understood gynaecological disorders which affects millions of women today and is one of the leading causes of infertility among the urban women.
This disease actually means the presence of endometrium (the inner lining of the uterus) in other areas of the abdominal cavity, outside the uterus (extrauterine). This extrauterine tissue (known as endometriotic implants) responds to the female hormones estrogen and progesterone and thus bleeds every month just as the uterine lining bleeds and is shed every month. Because of this bleeding, there is surrounding inflammation and this leads to various effects. The surrounding structures may get adherent to each other. For example, the fallopian tubes may get adherent to the back of the uterus or to the ovary. Or the intestines to the uterus,etc. This causes a change in the structural relationship between the various organs involved as well as a pull on them and may affect reproductive function.
One of the unique features of this condition is the chocolate cyst which is a type of blood filled cyst found in the ovary which interferes with egg formation and causes pain too.
An important aspect of this disease is immunological changes, meaning some antibodies may be produced which may harm the partner’s sperm or the corpus luteum (an organ which maintains early pregnancy).
As described earlier, the patient might experience pelvic pain or painful intercourse as a result of inflammation and pull. Painful and heavy periods are some of the most prominent symptoms of this condition. Infertility results from blocked or misshapen tubes or inflammation and chocolate cysts.
Many women experience early abortions, due to various factors (possibly immunogenic).
The biggest challenge a woman suffering from endometriosis faces is its tendency to recur throughout her reproductive life. Endometriosis, although not life threatening, may cause a lot of distress because of pain and its effects on fertility.
The saving grace is the fact that it improves remarkably during pregnancy and resolves almost completely after menopause. Since the implants thrive on hormones, they grow actively only during her reproductive life.
One needs to understand that medical science does not offer a “cure” for this condition. Remissions and relapses form the pattern of the disease till she becomes menopausal.
Treatment of endometriosis is based on the stage (severity) of the disease, the age of the patient, whether she wants to have children and her symptoms (pelvic pain or heavy periods).
Now a days, various medical and surgical options are available to women.
Medications are effective, though recurrences are common...
Laparoscopic surgery remains an important treatment tool for most patients, mainly to treat chocolate cysts, remove adhesions and destroy endometriotic implants and many need more than one procedure during their lifetime.
The woman should be counselled thoroughly about her condition and the treatment plan should take into account her treatment goals and expectations. She should follow up regularly throughout her life till menopause in order to maintain optimum health and avoid complications.
What we offer at Gyneguide:
Group counselling with Dr Suman Bijlani for an hour followed by Q & A session. It would cover :
- Introduction, basics and complications of endometriosis
- Infertility, chocolate cysts and various treatment options for the same
- IVF for the woman with endometriosis and infertility
- Medical treatment (non surgical options)
- Role of laparoscopic surgery in endometriosis. Surgery ... when to do and when not?
- A detailed review of advantages and disadvantages of each treatment option
Individual counselling session possible with prior appointment