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Endometriosis is a disease in which the inner layer of the uterus, also known as the uterus grows outside of it. This mostly occurs on the internal organs such as the ovaries, fallopian tubes, tissues around the ovaries and uterus, abdominal wall and so on. This might also occur in other parts of the body. Some of the main symptoms of this disease include infertility and pelvic pain. A large percentage of those affected by this disease do present with chronic pelvic pain. On the other hand, more than 70% of those affected by this disease present with pain during menstruation. Sometimes, patients might present with pain during sexual intercourse. In addition, about half of people affected by this disease present with infertility. About a quarter of women do not present with any signs or symptoms. This disease tends to affect patients socially and psychologically. The exact cause of endometriosis is not known yet, however, there are some factors that increase the chances of developing the disease. Some of these factors include a family history of endometriosis, toxins and so on. The diagnosis of this disease is done by a combination of both medical imaging and biopsy. On the other hand, there are some factors that reduce the chances of developing the disease. Some of these factors include the use of combined oral contraceptives. Others include avoiding the excessive consumption of alcohol. Currently, there is no cure for endometriosis, but there are some treatments that can improve the symptoms. Some of these include medications non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin, or taking components of the birth control pills. It has been observed that the endometrial cells that grow outside of the endometrium, develop from ectopic endometrial stem cell progenitors. Research is ongoing to fully understand how this occurs, and the possible ways to fully explore the potentials of stem cell therapy of endometriosis.
Stem cell therapy is also another potential way of treating endometriosis. It has been observed that the endometrial cells that grow outside of the endometrium, develop from ectopic endometrial stem cell progenitors. Research is ongoing to fully understand how this occurs, and the possible ways to fully explore the potentials of stem cell therapy of endometriosis. Signaling cells, also known as exosomes, might also become useful in the future. Although a lot more research needs to be done.
What Are the Signs And Symptoms Of Endometriosis?
The most common signs and symptoms of endometriosis include pain and infertility. Below are some of the other symptoms of endometriosis;
- Pelvic pain: This is one of the major symptoms of endometriosis. Patients usually present with pain that ranges from mild to severe pain on both sides of the pelvis, in the lower back and the rectal area. The amount of pain the patient feels is equivalent to the level of the endometriosis. Some of the symptoms of endometriosis-related pain include the following;
- Dysmenorrhea: This is a condition in which patients experience severe cramps during their menstrual period. This might worsen over time.
- Chronic pelvic pain: This is pain in the pelvic region, which also extends to the lower back, and sometimes in the abdomen.
- Pain during sex.
- Pain during urination.
- Infertility: According to statistics, about a third of women affected by endometriosis experience
- Gastrointestinal problems: People affected by endometriosis usually experience symptoms such as constipation, vomiting, and so on.
- Others: Other symptoms associated with endometriosis include conditions such as fever, headache, hypoglycemia and so on.
What Are The Causes Of Endometriosis?
As earlier mentioned, the exact cause of endometriosis is not known yet, however, there are some explanations for why it happens.
- Retrograde Menstruation: This is a condition in which menstrual blood containing endometrial cells flows back into the fallopian tubes, and back into the pelvic cavity, instead of flowing out of the body. Some of these cells tend to stick to the walls of the pelvis, and also on the surfaces of the organs in the pelvis. These cells grow, thicken and bleed during the menstrual cycle, causing a lot of pain to the patient.
- Transformation of cells: This is a theory that is proposed by some experts. It is known as the “induction theory” and it states that hormones or immune factors promote the transformation of peritoneal cells. Basically, this means that that the cells lining the abdomen tends to change to endometrial cells.
- Surgical scar implantation: This is a condition in which endometrial cells may attach themselves to the surgical incision.
- Immune system disorder: This is a condition in which the immune system fails to recognize the body endometrial tissue that is growing outside the uterus.
What Are The Risk Factors Of Endometriosis?
Since the exact cause of endometriosis isn’t known yet, there are some factors that increase the chances of developing this disease. Some of them include the following;
- Genetics: People who have relatives that have suffered from the disease, are prone to having this disease. The chances of having this disease are higher in women who have a direct sibling that has the disease. According to statistics, they are six times more likely to have endometriosis. This disease has been attributed to a change in some genomes.
- Environmental factors: There are some factors that also influence the development of endometriosis, apart from genetics. Some of the factors that influence the development of the disease are
When the female has not given birth yet
- Exposure to estrogen for a long time.
- Blockage of the menstrual flow
- Low body weight
Stem Cell Therapy of Endometriosis
Endometriosis was recently identified as a stem cell disease. It has been observed that the endometrial cells that grow outside of the endometrium, develop from ectopic endometrial stem cell progenitors. Research is ongoing to fully understand how this occurs, and the possible ways to fully explore the potentials of stem cell therapy of endometriosis.
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References
Becker, C. (2015). Diagnosis and management of endometriosis. Prescriber, 26(20), pp.17-21.
FUKUDA, H. and MUKAI, H. (2010). Cutaneous endometriosis in the umbilical region: The usefulness of CD10 in identifying the interstitium of ectopic endometriosis. The Journal of Dermatology, 37(6), pp.545-549.
Hendarto, H. (2016). Thinking Out Loud On Endometriosis And Stem Cell Relationship. Journal of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, 2(1), pp.27-28.
Jacobson, T. (2011). Potential cures for endometriosis. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1221(1), pp.70-74.
