Endometriosis Flashcards
Endometriosis
Endometrial tissue lying outside the endometrial cavity
- found within the peritoneal cavity
Pathophys of endometriosis
Responds to cyclical hormonal changes and undergoes bleeding
Repeated bleeding leads to fibrosis
Fibrosis leads adhesions causing pain and infertility
Describe pain in endometriosis
- Cyclical
- non colicky
- Around the time of menstruation
- Pelvic pain
Dyspareunia is caused by;
- Deep pain with intercourse indicates endometriosis in the
Pouch of Douglas
Symptoms of endometriosis
- Dysmenorrhoea
- Dyspareunia
- Low abdo/ pelvic pain
Physical examination of Endometriosis may show
- Thickening or nodularity of uterosacral ligaments
- Tender in pouch of Douglas
- Adenexal mass
Ultrasound of endometriosis shows
- chocolate cysts
Conditions associated with endometriosis
- Irritable bowel disease
2. Constipation
Medical management of Endometriosis
- Analgesics
- Combined oral
contraceptives - Progestogens
- Danaxol/gestrinone
- Gnrh agonist
Combined oral contraceptive agents uses
- Prescribed for 6 months to render the patient amenorrhoeic
- Check if symptoms of pelvic pain disappear (if not then there may be assoc IBS/constipation)
- If sufficient symptomatic relief, continue using indefinetly
Progestogens
e. g. Cerazette
1. Synthetic progesterone to induce amenorrhea
2. Results in symptomatic relief
Gonadotrophin releasing hormone agonist
- Induces state of hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism
2. Pseudo - menopause stimulated by low levels of oestrogen
Side effects of Gonadotrophin releasing hormone agonist
- Menopause - hot flushes and night sweats
2. Drug induced osteoporosis
low dose HRT should be administered
Surgical management of Endometriosis
- Laproscopic surgery to excise endometrial tissue
- Definitive surgery
- Hysterectomy and bilateral saplingoophorectomy
( removal of ovaries is essential for long term symptom relief)
non-gynaecological symptoms
- urinary symptoms e.g. dysuria, urgency, haematuria. 2. Dyschezia (painful bowel movements)