relieve painful stomach cramps

Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the womb grows in other places, such as the ovaries and fallopian tubes. Endometriosis can affect women of any age, including teenagers.

It's a long-term condition that can have a significant impact on your life, but there are treatments that can help.

Symptoms

The main symptom of endometriosis is pelvic pain during your menstrual period, but other common symptoms include:

  •         Very painful menstrual cramps.
  •         Intense abdominal pain during your period or in between periods.
  •         Pain during sex.
  •         Heavy bleeding during periods or spotting (light bleeding) between periods.
  •         Infertility (difficulty becoming pregnant).
  •         Painful bowel movements.

Causes

Nobody knows exactly what causes this disease. Possible causes can be attributed to:

  • Problems with menstrual period flow. 
  • Genetic factors. 
  • Immune system problems. 
  • Hormones. 
  • Side effects of surgery. 

Treatment

Based on the factors below, your GP can design a successful treatment plan for you.

  • Your plans for future pregnancies
  •  The severity of your endometriosis.
  • Your age.
  • The severity of your symptoms (often pain).

Doctors usually recommend a taking a combination of prescription and OTC medications to relieve painful stomach cramps and treat fertility issues.

Hormonal options

  • Birth control
  • Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) medications
  • Danazol

OTC treatment for painful stomach cramps can include:

  • Over-the-counter pain relief using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

In severe cases, surgery may be required. Surgical options to treat endometriosis include:

  • Laparoscopy

Laparoscopy is a simple operation performed in the abdomen or pelvis using small incisions with the aid of a laparoscope camera. The laparoscope aids diagnosis or therapeutic interventions with a few small cuts in the abdomen.

  • Hysterectomy

In severe cases, your GP may suggest a hysterectomy to remove your uterus based on the amount of endometriosis and scar tissue present, if you have other uterine conditions like adenomyosis and your desire for future fertility. If you have a hysterectomy, areas of endometriosis should still be excised to optimize your pain relief.

Can Endometriosis Go Away On Its Own?

Endometriosis can go away on its own once menopause starts and oestrogen levels begin to drop. After menopause, symptoms of endometriosis may gradually disappear. So, until menopause kicks in, it's really important to continue your medical treatment so you can manage ongoing symptoms of the condition so you aren't continually in pain each time you get your period.

It’s important to maintain a regular appointment with your healthcare provider so that you can work together on managing your condition long term.

What happens if endometriosis is left untreated?

If you don’t get medical treatment from a doctor for this condition promptly, the endometrial-like tissue that grows outside of your uterus can cause scar tissues, lesions, and cysts as time passes.

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