Endometriosis is a chronic reproductive illness that often has serious negative effects on women's daily life, fertility, intimate relationships and overall well-being. It also causes a significant economic burden due to repeated absenteeism from work, numerous medical treatments and, often, extensive surgical treatments.
The American Society for Reproductive Medicine published a wide range of useful endometriosis facts, including that women with endometriosis-related pelvic pain suffer for an average of six to 12 years before receiving a diagnosis and treatment. Another review published by Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics of North America revealed that the disease affects 10 to 15 percent of reproductive-aged women, with 30 to 50 percent of those women being infertile and many others having difficulty carrying a pregnancy to term.
Knowing the Symptoms of Endometriosis
Contrary to popular belief, the painful, exhausting, miserable menstrual periods that many women experience are not normal and do not need to be suffered through. That's why it's important for physicians to educate women about the symptoms of endometriosis and encourage them to seek diagnosis and treatment.
The symptoms of endometriosis vary in severity and can include severe pain during menstruation, periods that last for longer than a week, heavy bleeding that requires a change of menstrual product every hour, pain during intercourse or overwhelming fatigue. The condition is also linked to severe gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms; there is a connection between endometriosis and constipation, for example, and other associated symptoms such as frequent and persistent diarrhea, nausea, bloating, rectal bleeding, proctitis, tenesmus and colic rectal pain from endometriosis.
Endometriosis can also cause lower urinary tract symptoms including hematuria, nonmicrobial cystitis, recurrent urinary tract infections and dysuria, as well as fertility problems such as infertility and difficulty carrying a pregnancy to term. Again, these are not normal period symptoms and should be evaluated and investigated by a physician to determine the cause.
Educating Patients About Key Endometriosis Facts
Due to the lack of generally understood facts about endometriosis and the impact the disease can have on a patient's health and reproductive ability, it often falls to well-educated physicians to put all the information together for their patients. With the right line of questioning and the latest imaging technology, gynecologists can uncover signs that call for further investigation and treatment.
When evaluating endometriosis symptoms, physicians should start by determining whether the patient has a family history of endometriosis, which is one of the best indicators of the presence of the disease. Then, determine whether the patient has experienced dysmenorrhea, intermenstrual pelvic pain or moderate-to-severe dyspareunia for at least six months.
Collect information on any gastrointestinal symptoms, such as diarrhea, constipation, rectal bleeding, proctitis, tenesmus and colic rectal pain, either chronic or during menstruation. You should also gather information about lower urinary tract symptoms such as hematuria, nonmicrobial cystitis, recurrent urinary tract infections, pollakiuria and dysuria.
Review any history of oral contraceptive pills prescribed for primary dysmenorrhea intensity, including the patient's age at first prescription and duration of use. You should also request a record of any absenteeism from school or work during menstruation, either in adolescence or adulthood. Finally, determine the existence and duration of infertility (primary or secondary), which is defined as a period of unprotected intercourse of longer than 12 months without pregnancy.
Listen to Your Patients
There are many reasons why diagnosing endometriosis takes so long, even when women experience symptoms. For one, women often fail to report their symptoms because they assume their discomfort is normal.
The best thing clinicians can do is offer to listen to patients' concerns about their bodies and ask the right questions to determine whether their symptoms are connected to endometriosis. A six- to 12-year wait time to receive treatment for this severely life-altering disease is far too long. The best way to help solve this problem is to work together with your patients, building trust and loyalty in your medical practice.
