Q: What is endometriosis?
A: When endometrial tissue appears elsewhere in the body (mainly in the abdomen) it is called endometriosis.
Q: Who can get endometriosis?
A: Women who have menstruation are typically affected by endometriosis. Symptoms begin at or after menarche and for most women, the condition rarely occurs after menopause.
Q: What are the symptoms of endometriosis?
A: The most common symptom of endometriosis is pelvic pain. This pelvic pain is primarily dysmenorrhea, although women with endometriosis may also have pain at other times of the menstrual cycle. Another symptom is infertility, and some patients may feel fatigued.
Q: How is endometriosis diagnosed?
A: The only accurate way to diagnose endometriosis is by laparoscopy, which is a surgical procedure. However, there are many doctors who can “diagnose” a patient based on their symptoms and start treatment based on that.
Q: Can endometriosis be cured?
A: No, the disease cannot be cured, but many patients are able to control their symptoms with long-term comprehensive treatment.
Q: Is endometriosis a sexually transmitted disease or an infectious disease?
A: No. Endometriosis is not transmitted from person to person. Although the cause of endometriosis is not known, it is not an infectious disease.
Q: Is endometriosis a hereditary disease?
A: The cause of endometriosis is not known, but studies have shown that first-degree relatives of women with endometriosis are more likely to develop endometriosis.
Q: Can people with endometriosis have children?
A: 30-40% of people with endometriosis will have difficulty getting pregnant (meaning 60-70% of patients have no problem). If you strongly want to have children, then tell your doctor about your symptoms and work with you to develop a perfect treatment plan.
Q: Can hysterectomy treat endometriosis?
A: As a last resort, some patients choose to have a hysterectomy. If you choose to have your uterus removed, it is important to make sure that all endometriosis lesions are removed at the same time.
Q: Can pregnancy cure endometriosis?
A: It does not cure endometriosis completely. Some patients find that the pain is relieved during pregnancy, but this does not work for everyone and most patients experience a recurrence of pain after delivery and after they stop breastfeeding.
Q: Is endometriosis a cancer?
A: No. Endometriosis cysts are sometimes called tumors because they behave somewhat similarly to cancer, but they are not cancer. Although it is very, very rare for a percentage of implanted endometriosis lesions to become cancerous. Some studies have shown that women with endometriosis have a high risk of malignancy, but this is controversial.
Q: Where can I find a specialist to help people with endometriosis?
A: I am dedicated to researching diagnostic and treatment methods for endometriosis, and I specialize in laparoscopic surgery.