2024-01-25 09:21:00
Pain, bleeding, fatigue and infertility are the daily lives of the 10% of women affected by endometriosis. This pathology, whose causes are still unknown, suffers from a lack of recognition from the medical profession, which offers few treatments. Fortunately, natural solutions can reduce pain and even reverse the disease. In the first part of this file, let’s first learn to recognize the signs of endometriosis.
If endometriosis is so often underdiagnosed, it is in particular because its risk factors as well as its main symptoms are poorly understood by patients and therapists alike. Let’s do a check in.
Short cycles, pregnancies, age: risk factors for endometriosis
Endometriosis is mainly found in women of childbearing age, with a peak frequency around the age of 40. A risk factor largely biased by the frequent delay in diagnosis in this disease (seven years on average). There are a few cases of endometriosis following menopause, but Norwegian research estimates that 97% of postmenopausal women with endometriosis are free of pain.
Two other common factors arehave short cycles (less than twenty-eight days), heavy and prolonged periods (more than seven days) and having had her period early (before the age of twelve). In addition, we find a significantly higher number of cases among women of low build (low BMI between 19 and 20) than among those with a high BMI (greater than 30).
The presence of an autoimmune site might also play a role since we find more lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, hypothyroidism, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, multiple sclerosis, asthma or allergies in patients with endometriosis. Finally, genetic predispositions can weigh in the balance, since 5 to 8% of mothers suffering from this disease might transmit it to their daughters. On the other hand, although this link is not very clear, the risk of developing endometriosis decreases with the number of pregnancies (this might be a bias linked to the fact that endometriosis often causes infertility, it is found less in these women).
Read also Cosmetics and endometriosis, a probable link?
Risk factors currently being studied
Certain risk factors are mentioned regarding endometriosis but are insufficiently documented or currently being studied:
Redheads, tall people, sensitive to the sun or heavy menstrual flow. Consumption of alcohol, coffee or night work. Diet high in saturated fats and red meat. Use of tampons, exposure to dioxin.
Read also A natural approach to endometriosis
Pain, infertility, urinary disorders: the main signs to recognize
THE dysmenorrhea are one of the first signs of endometriosis and affect 75 to 90% of patients. This is pelvic pain that appears before menstruation and persists for 12 to 72 hours. Intermittent, precise and spasmodic, they resistant to simple analgesics and generally have a significant impact on socio-professional life. They radiate towards the buttocks and thighs, particularly in cases of rectal endometriosis.
Present in 40% of cases, abdominal-pelvic pain Chronic conditions are more common in cases of endometriosis generating deep adhesions of the intestines. Not very specific and variable, they must be combined with other factors to suggest a diagnosis. THE digestive disorders are also common, such as diarrhea, constipation, bleeding from the anus, anal pain and painful defecation1.
Up to 90% of women with endometriosis have experienced difficulty conceiving. Infertility is therefore another sign of this pathology, which varies depending on the area affected: 85% when the endometriosis is located in the fallopian tubes, 36% in the case of peritoneal endometriosis (the peritoneum is the membrane which lines the walls of the abdomen) and 25% in ovarian locations. Of the pain during sexual intercourse (called “dyspareunia”) are a recurring symptom, particularly with “trigger zones”, made painful by certain positions.
THE urinary problems are found in 2% of cases (and in 11% of cases of deep endometriosis). Hemorrhagic cycle disorders (heavy bleeding during periods or outside periods) are also common, particularly in cases of adenomyosis (read box below).
Read also Chronic pain: ten questions for Dr Claire Chauffour-Ader
Adenomyosis: “internal” endometriosis
Also called “internal” endometriosis, adenomyosis is endometriosis of the myometrium, the inner muscular layer of the lining of the uterus. She affects 90% of women who have had several children and often concerns women who have had a late first period.
In more than half of the cases, history of trauma (abortion or curettage for biopsy) or gynecological surgery – other than cesarean section – are found.
Yes, yes IUD (IUD) is a factor found in nearly 30% of cases, there is no proof that it is a risk factor.
Read also Does red meat increase the risk of endometriosis?
Read also Endometriosis: towards more consideration?
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