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tx
reproductive system
endometriosis
diagnoses
definition and etiology
definition:
The ectopic occurrence of endometrial tissue.
etiology:
A common problem which has no known etiology but a higher occurrence is seen in women who defer pregnancy until later in life.
Fiberoptic laparoscopic techniques allow a direct look at the problematic tissue.
signs and symptoms
signs and symptoms:
If this tissue is growing adjacent to or on the lumbar nerve plexus, or on the colon, the symptoms can be varied and the diagnosis hard to pin down.
dull, aching, cramping pain
bearing down pressure in the low back and pelvis
dyspareunia (pain with intercourse) may occur
abnormal bleeding may occur
palpable, tender nodules along the uterosacral ligaments
a fixed, tender, retroflexed uterus
thickening of the adnexae
lab findings:
ultrasound
course and prognosis
The ectopic endometrial tissue can grow anywhere and responds to the same hormonal messages as other uterine tissue, swelling and changing with the menstrual cycle.
Pain tends to increase with time and begins progressively earlier in the menstrual cycle.
Laser techniques to destroy it are currently popular in conventional medicine as is removing the uterus, ovaries (and perhaps appendix) thus stopping the menstrual cycle altogether.
differential diagnosis
musculoskeletal problems causing back and pelvic pain
dysmenorrhea
PID
Ovarian tumor
footnotes