One of the most little-studied diseases of our time is endometriosis of the cervix, the treatment of which is compulsory. Endometriosis affects about 7-10 percent of women. And mostly young girls are sick between the 25th and 30th years. The disease is very insidious. The fact is that endometriosis of the cervix is one of the main causes of infertility.
Doctors do not know the causes of endometriosis. Unfortunately, at present, more cases of this disease are registered than it was several years ago. Often, gynecologists recommend detection of endometriosis of the cervix as soon as possible. And it's better not to wait with this decision. The more time passes, the less chance of having a baby. In addition, it happens that pregnancy at an early stage of the disease stops the development of endometriosis for many years or even forever.
Endometriosis is closely related to the hormonal changes that occur in the body during the menstrual cycle. In healthy women, the mucous membrane of the uterus (endometrium) exfoliates in the last phase of the menstrual cycle and stands out from the outside with menstrual blood. In the case of endometriosis, fragments of the envelope for unknown reasons enter the blood. They move to various organs and settle there. Such implanted fragments behave like "miniature wombs." They react to the hormonal changes associated with the menstrual cycle: they are cleared and bleed. Blood does not have the ability to drain, so it accumulates in the form of clots, lumps and cysts that grow with each month, and cause more and more pain. Most implants are in the ovaries and fallopian tubes and, unfortunately, are often the cause of their death. Nevertheless, implants can penetrate into other internal organs: the intestines, the bladder, the ureters. They can even take root in the lungs and heart.
The first symptoms of the disease, as a rule, are manifested in the form of a feeling of pain and swelling in the abdomen. This occurs a few days before menstruation. Also, the cervical uterine endometriosis reports pain during intercourse. The menstrual cycle is prolonged to 40-50 days. Ultrasound can fully confirm the diagnosis if the most noticeable cysts in the ovaries or in other organs are found. However, only laparoscopy (a small cut of the skin with the introduction of abdominal surgical instruments) and further microscopic studies can uniquely identify the disease.
The method of treatment of endometriosis depends on its maturity and the age of the woman. In the initial stage of the disease, it is best to block for some time the functions of the ovaries and menstruation. Endometrial cells that provoke the disease may die. In this regard, the cysts and nodules formed may decrease or even completely disappear. Doctors often recommend the most natural way to block menstruation - pregnancy. If this is not possible, then artificial menopause hormones are used. In case of significant changes it is necessary to resort to surgery (as a rule, laparoscopic), during the operation foci of endometriosis are removed. Surgery is sometimes necessary even when spikes are formed in the ovaries and fallopian tubes. They are the most common cause of infertility. It is necessary to remove them if the woman wants to have more children. Unfortunately, in the late stages of the disease, only 30 percent of women can become pregnant.
Even after treatment, relapses of endometriosis are possible. Thus, women should remain under the watchful eye of a gynecologist for at least half a year to make a vaginal ultrasound - better in the second phase of the menstrual cycle. The risk of recurrence decreases after the onset of menopause. But even then, you need to visit the gynecologist regularly, since endometriosis increases the risk of developing ovarian cancer. Attention! Doctors strongly do not recommend the use of hormone replacement therapy in women who suffer from endometriosis. They believe that the most effective, pleasant and useful treatment is pregnancy.
Be sure to consult a doctor if:
- The abdomen is very painful a few days before menstruation and during it.
- Severe bleeding lasts more than 7 days.
- There are spotting between menstrual periods.
- The menstrual cycle lasted up to 40-50 days.
- During sexual intercourse and gynecological examinations there is a feeling of pain.
- There were problems with pregnancy.
- In the urine and feces of the woman appeared blood.
Foods are identified that reduce the risk of cervical endometriosis, the treatment of which is necessary. It is recommended to eat fruits and vegetables instead of meat, this can reduce the likelihood of developing endometriosis. Italian scientists carefully studied the diet of 1000 women. Half of them were healthy, others suffer from endometriosis. It was found that women who ate two portions of fruit and vegetables (especially green) every day were 55 percent less likely to be affected than women who consumed one serving. The same studies also show that daily eating red meat increases the risk of getting endometriosis almost twice.