- March 24, 2025
- Health
Endometriosis – A Chronic Inflammatory Disease
Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory disease in which endometrial cells grow outside the uterus.
📌 Prevalence:
🔹 Affects 6–10% of women of reproductive age.
🔹 Occurs in 50% of women with infertility and chronic pelvic pain.
Causes of Endometriosis
The exact cause of endometriosis remains unclear, but several risk factors have been identified:
✅ Menstrual blood flow disorders
✅ Hormonal and metabolic factors, including:
- Obesity;
- Early onset of the first menstruation;
- Late menopause;
- Short menstrual cycles;
- Low birth weight.
✅ Exposure to environmental toxins, such as:
- Waste burning;
- Industrial processes;
- Consumption of meat and animal-derived products containing harmful substances.
Types of Endometriosis (Based on Location)
🔹 Peritoneal – lesions on the surface of the peritoneum.
🔹 Ovarian – cysts on the ovaries or fallopian tubes.
🔹 Deeply infiltrating – aggressive growth beyond the peritoneum, affecting organs such as the bladder.
Classification of Endometriosis by Severity
Stage I (Minimal) – small adhesions.
Stage II (Mild) – presence of endometrial cysts.
Stage III (Moderate) – adhesions in the broad and sacro-uterine ligaments, involvement of the ovaries and fallopian tubes, lesions in the recto-uterine pouch.
Stage IV (Severe) – lack of pelvic mobility, endometrial lesions in the vagina, cervix, appendix, and bladder.
Impact of Endometriosis on Fertility
Endometriosis can negatively affect fertility by:
❌ Adhesions that prevent ovulation and block the transport of the egg through the fallopian tube.
❌ Inflammation that interferes with embryo implantation and ovulation.
Symptoms of Endometriosis
🚩 Pain – the primary symptom, which can vary in nature:
- Ovulation-related pain: dull, burning, with a feeling of heaviness.
- Adhesion-related pain: sharp, pulling, stabbing.
- Pain during intercourse;
- Lower abdominal pain lasting more than 6 months during menstruation (66% of women);
- Reduced fertility;
- Painful bowel movements;
- Blood in urine or stool;
- Irregular or heavy menstrual bleeding.
❗ Pain can mimic other conditions, and in some cases, endometriosis may be asymptomatic, making diagnosis challenging.
Treatment and the Role of Physical Activity
✅ Although endometriosis is not curable, its symptoms can be managed. One effective method is regular physical activity, which has been proven to have a positive impact on pain regulation and overall well-being.
💡 In the next post, you will learn how physical activity plays a crucial role in pain management and what an appropriate workout plan should look like.
Stay tuned! 🎯
