What is endometriosis? Endometriosis is a condition in which pieces of the reproductive tissue that normally lines the uterus (uterine endometrium) attach to other areas, including the ovaries or the fallopian tubes.
Symptoms of endometrioma can vary greatly among women who have this condition. A woman with endometriosis may experience very painful periods. Other symptoms of endometrial growths are:
Women also may have a lot of abdominal pain and cramps, which can develop in a number of different ways. In some women, these symptoms are so severe that it interferes with their ability to get pregnant.
Sometimes doctors will see small pieces of tissue growing inside the uterine wall and they call these ovarian cysts. If doctors can remove one of these cysts, it can help ease the pain felt by women who have endometriosis and reduce the number of cysts in the future.
Endometrial tissue grows inside the uterine lining, forming into scar tissue. The presence of fibroids in the uterine lining increases the risk of having a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy, which are both serious conditions that can result in death. The risk of suffering a miscarriage is much higher if a woman suffers from endometrial cancer. The presence of ovarian cancer also increases the risk of suffering a miscarriage.
Endometrial cancer and ovarian cancer share many of the same symptoms, including pain, pelvic pain, weight gain, changes in menstrual flow, fever, blood in urine, and/or spotting. Although it can be difficult to distinguish ovarian cancer from endometrial cancer, symptoms often increase dramatically when either type is present.
A doctor will usually examine a woman suspected of suffering from endometrial or ovarian cancer using a laparoscopy, a procedure that involves inserting a telescope-like instrument called a laparoscope through the vagina into the womb. This procedure provides doctors with an up close view of the inside of the abdomen and ovaries. The doctor may also do an ultrasound to look for growths. The doctor will use a variety of methods to rule out any possible malignancies such as ovarian cysts or cancer of the bone.
Although there are no definite known treatments for endometrial and ovarian cancer, doctors often choose to treat both types in combination. Women with endometrioma will be given a course of hormone therapy in order to shrink the growths in their uterine lining and prevent the growth from spreading to other parts of the body, while other women with ovarian cancer are treated with surgery to remove the affected ovary or ovaries.
If the doctor determines that treatment options are not suitable, many women will decide to undergo surgery in hopes of alleviating some of the symptoms. Surgery is sometimes used on women whose tumors have spread outside of the uterus. A large number of women who undergo surgery for endometriosis and ovarian cancer choose to undergo hysterectomy in order to completely remove the cysts and eliminate the threat of endometrial and ovarian cancer in the future.
Most women with endometriosis do not need surgery to treat this type of cancer and many choose to pursue alternative and natural methods of treating endometriosis and ovarian cancer. One way to treat endometriosis and ovarian cancer is with natural treatments and alternative medicine. Some of the most popular methods include acupuncture, homeopathy, aromatherapy and massage. These types of treatment can treat symptoms and prevent scarring that are caused by endometriosis and ovarian cancer.
Acupuncture is a Chinese therapy that is thought to treat endometriosis and ovarian cancer. It is believed that the energy flow within the body can control a woman’s menstrual cycles and may possibly reduce the severity and frequency of periods. Acupuncture also has been shown to stimulate the immune system and increase a woman’s natural ability to fight off disease. Acupuncture may be used to treat endometriosis by stimulating the ovaries by making an individual body better able to fight off infections. It may also stimulate the production of hormones and regulate menstrual flow and blood flow.
Aromatherapy is another form of alternative and natural treatments. In aromatherapy, essential oils are rubbed on the affected areas, which are believed to increase the health and well-being of the uterus and ovaries. Massage techniques or acupressure may be used on the ovaries in order to relieve muscle spasms and shrink cysts on the ovaries. Massaging the ovaries may also stimulate hormone production in the body and promote a woman’s menstrual cycle. The key to aromatherapy and the prevention of endometriosis and ovarian cancer is the balance of chemicals within the body which can help to heal a patient from any type of disease.
Endometriosis and ovarian cancer can also be treated with the use of alternative and natural medicines. Some of these include natural supplements such as green tea extract, gingko biloba, l-carnitine and folic acid. Herbal treatments such as dandelion and burdock root can help women who suffer from endometriosis to prevent or reduce scarring caused by cysts and scar tissue. There are also many homeopathic remedies which are said to treat endometriosis and ovarian cancer. These remedies can be taken in tablet, pill and powder form.
