New Delhi: Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory condition caused by to abnormal appearance of the uterine lining, also known as endometrium, in other places outside the uterus. This causes cyclical changes in these endometriotic deposits due to hormonal changes in the body. Endometriosis, a chronic condition affecting an estimated 25-43 million women in India, yet it remains one of the most underdiagnosed health conditions, thus inviting myths. Below, Dr. Shilpa Singhal, Gynaecologist and Infertility Specialist, Birla Fertility and IVF, Dwarka, listed some common myths associated with the disease and corresponding facts.
Myth – Pregnancy cures endometriosis
Fact – Pregnancy brings changes in hormonal structure, which thereby suppress the active disease and provide relief, but it is not a cure.
Myth – Removal of endometriotic cysts is a permanent cure
Fact – Endometriotic cysts need removal in cases where the cyst is bigger than 5 cm or is causing pain that cannot be managed by medicine. The cysts have bags of old blood collected inside them, they can redevelop and come back at a later stage, especially in young patients.
Myth – There is a high risk of cancer associated with endometriosis
Fact – Endometriosis is not associated with cancer. In general, the disease is known to cause pain and affect the quality of life. However, the chances of these cysts being cancerous are negligible.
Myth – Endometriosis will be cured completely after surgery, especially removal of the uterus
Fact – Endometriosis is dependent on the hormonal status of the woman. After successful surgery, the deposits in the pelvis can be reduced. However, these deposits, being oestrogen-sensitive, can always grow back, and usually they do grow back if the patient is not on hormonal suppressant treatment.
Myth – Endometriosis can happen only in the reproductive organs
Fact – Endometriosis is known to happen in other areas of the body as well, such as around the liver, around the lungs, and also around the GI tract of the human being. At these spaces, it causes cyclical bleeding, which can present as bleeding or pain in the chest or abdomen.
Myth – Endometriosis always causes pain
Fact – There are many cases where the patient had big endometriotic cysts, which were diagnosed only with ultrasound or deposits that were seen during a surgery done for some other reason. However, the patient did not report pain as the primary symptom.
Myth – Endometriosis is always associated with infertility
Fact – Endometriosis has different stages. In the first and second stages, when the disease is mild or there are cysts less than 2 cm and the woman has a good ovarian reserve, the patients can conceive naturally and may not need any treatment.
Myth – Abortion or miscarriage causes endometriosis
Fact – This is a false assumption. The mechanisms that cause endometriosis are determined by genetic and autoimmune mechanisms.
Myth – Use of cups or tampons causes endometriosis
Fact – Cups and tampons are absolutely safe and simply a means of collecting menstrual blood. They do not pose any harm to the female reproductive system and are not associated with endometriosis. If they are not used properly, they might lead to infections, but not endometriosis.
Myth – Oral contraceptive pills cure endometriosis
Fact – Oral contraceptive pills decrease the availability of oestrogen in the body, thereby decreasing the activity in the endometriotic deposits in the body. As a result, there is a decrease in pain and active disease. However, this is a temporary situation and when the OC pills are stopped, the disease may become active again within the next two months.
Endometriosis has different stages. In the first and second stages, when the disease is mild or there are cysts less than 2 cm and the woman has a good ovarian reserve, the patients can conceive naturally and may not need any treatment. Health Conditions Health News: Latest News from Health Care, Mental Health, Weight Loss, Disease, Nutrition, Healthcare
