Endometriosis Flashcards
What is Endometriosis?
Condition where there is Ectopic endometrial tissue OUTSIDE uterus
What is Adenomyosis?
Endometrial tissue in myometrium (muscle layer of uterus)
What is the main age group for Endometriosis?
25-40 yrs
Is the pathophysiology of Endometriosis clear?
No
What is the Retrograde Menstruation theory for Endometriosis? (2 steps)
- Endometrial cells travel backwards from uterine cavity –> Fallopian tubes –> Pelvis / Peritoneum
- Endometrial cells seed + grow here
What is another theory for Endometriosis pathophysiology?
Endometrial cells travel through lymphatic system (same way as cancer spreads)
What is endometrial tissue sensitive to?
Oestrogen
During menstruation, what happens to the ectopic endometrial tissue?
Bleeds, just like normal endometrial tissue
What does the bleeding of ectopic endometrial tissue cause? (2 things)
- Pain
- Bloating / distension @ ectopic sites
What can repeated bleeding and inflammation at ectopic sites lead to?
Scarring –> Adhesions
When are the symptoms of endometriosis reduced? (2 things)
- Pregnancy
- Menopause
What are the RF for Endometriosis? (6 things)
- Early menarche
- FHx Endometriosis
- Short menstrual cycles
- Long duration of menstrual bleeding
- Heavy menstrual bleeding
- Defects in uterus / fallopian tubes
What are the CF of Endometriosis?
- Pelvic / abdominal pain (cyclic)
- Dyspareunia (pain @ intercourse)
- Dysmenorrhoea
- Infertility
- Dysuria / Dyschezia
- Cyclic bleeding @ other sites (e.g haematuria)
What examinations can you do for sus Endometriosis? (2 things)
- Bimanual examination
- Speculum examination
What might you find @ examination of sus Endometriosis? (3 things)
- Endometrial tissue visible in vagina (esp post fornix)
- Fixed retroverted cervix
- Tenderness in vagina / cervix / adnexa