Endometriosis Flashcards
What is it?
Where does it commonly effect
Growth of endometrial tissue outside the uterus - endometrioma
Pouch of Douglas
Peritoneal surfaces
Bowel and bladder
OVARY
If it occurs on the ovaries what are the endometrioma called?
And where do they get this name from?
Chocolate cysts
Chocolate blood which comes out which excised - due to producing blood each month but it having nowhere to go
Why do endometrioma cause so much pain?
They still respond to hormonal changes in the same way as the endometrium -> cramping and bleeding
What is the main symptoms experienced?
Cyclic - dull and aching pain - occurring commonly before menstruation
Subfertility
Painful sex
Why do patients commonly experience subfertility and sometimes visceral pain which isn’t cyclic?
When endometrioma bleed and try to heal they can form adhesions between organs in the pelvis
This can occur around ovaries and Fallopian tubes -> distorting them out of shape
What is the gold standard method of investigation?
Laproscopy
- See chocolate cysts
- Dark dots of endometrial tissue
What may be felt on vaginal examination?
Endometrial tissue may be seen in the vagina
Tender
Fixed uterus
What is the main stay for managing pain?
NSAIDS
COCP/Progesterones - inhibit ovulation - reduce cyclic pain
What is the purpose of surgery?
Remove endometrioma
Correct adhesions - help to increase fertility in some cases
What causes it?
Unknown - all theories
What causes it?
Unknown - all theories
