Endometriosis is a condition in Singapore which endometrial tissue (similar to the one present in the uterine lining) grows or is found outside the uterine cavity (uterus). Endometriosis is a chronic gynaecological disease that can be severely debilitating and cause significant deterioration of one’s quality of life.
Endometriosis can be a complicated condition to diagnose despite its prevalence. Fortunately in Singapore, a wave of endometriosis awareness has been taking place, empowering women to forgo tolerating extreme pain that impacts their quality of life.
During menstruation, women shed uterine lining built in the uterus through the vagina. However, for women with endometriosis, endometrial tissues tend to grow outside the uterus, subsequently also thickening and bleeding during menstruation. As there is no channel of exit outside the uterus, the abnormal growth leads to inflammation, scar tissue formation (adhesion), and the growth of chocolate cysts (endometrioma) in the affected areas.
Below are the stages of endometriosis and their classifications:
The cause of endometriosis is still unclear and definitive.
Below are some popular theories about the formation of endometriosis:
As menstruation experiences differ for everyone, symptoms would also present themselves differently. Endometriosis can start even during the first menstrual cycle. It is important to be honest about your discomfort instead of pushing your body for tolerance.
Symptoms of endometriosis include:
If you notice any of the symptoms stated above, make an appointment today to get an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.
Yes, endometriosis is generally a painful condition. However, 20-25% of women are asymptomatic. This means it is possible for one to have endometriosis without symptoms of pain. In such cases, these women typically discover their endometriosis diagnosis during attempts to conceive. We advise conducting preconception screening if you have suspicions of being asymptomatic or find difficulties conceiving.
Endometriosis risk factors include:
Endometriosis risk factors include:
Obtaining a diagnosis for endometriosis is complex as no imaging test or physical examination can provide a definitive finding.
However, clues and hints can be obtained from:
Treating endometriosis will provide much relief and improvement in your quality of life.
Treatments options include:
Depending on the severity of your condition and healing capabilities, recovery rates may vary. There are situations where patients with chronic endometriosis recover within 2 weeks whilst patients with mild endometriosis feel lethargic for a longer period of time. Depending on your severity, your duration of stay in the hospital may also vary. Usually after a laparoscopy, symptoms of endometriosis reduce significantly and quality of life increases.
IUD (Mirena) lessens period flow and pain, however, in cases where endometriosis is present outside the uterine cavity, an IUD is unable to remove or reverse endometriosis conditions.
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