Endometriosis symptoms afflict about 7 million American women. The signs symptoms of endometriosis are one of the most painful conditions a woman will ever have to deal with.

Endometriosis is defined as the abnormal growth of endometrial cells that become scattered in areas where they do not belong. Endometriosis islets can grow in the fallopian tubes, within uterine musculature or outer surface of the uterus, the ovaries, pelvic organs, colon, bladder, the sides of the pelvic cavity and even the lungs. With the onset of the menstrual period, the islets increase in size, swell with blood and bleed into the surrounding areas and tissues. The problem is that there is no place for the tissue and blood to go, and the result is inflammation and a great deal of pain. The occurance of endometriosis symptoms is on the increase, and there is much debate about why.

Here are the common endometriosis symptoms:

1. Pain - abdominal pain and cramping. And these endometriosis symptoms may be severe in a woman with mild endometriosis and may hardly occur in women with widespread endometriosis. The pain and cramping can be debilitating.

2. Inflammation - during the early part of the menstrual cycle, the endometrial tissue becomes filled with blood. When menstruation occurs, this tissue also gives off blood, but it cannot go anywhere. This blood accumulation causes inflammation that in the abdominal and pelvic tissue becomes very painful.

3. Painful sexual intercourse - endometrial tissue creates pressure in the lower pelvis or prevents the free movement of the pelvic organs.

4. PMS in the days before and during the menstrual period.

5. Rectal bleeding - also painful bowel movements can occur.

6. Chronic fatigue - pain, bleeding and cramping can be exhausting for the woman, making it difficult or impossible to function normally.

7. Infertility and miscarriage - the more widespread the endometriosis, the more likely the woman will have fertility and miscarriage problems.

Some women have endometriosis but without endometriosis symptoms, while others have symptoms but little endometriosis. And the good news is that something can usually done about it without drugs or surgery with a good chance of experiencing significant improvement. While the causes of endometriosis symptoms are unknown, high estrogen levels in women appear to be a contributing factor. Endometriosis seems to be a disease of the industrialized countries. It often runs in families, and in many women, there is a correlation to immune dysfunction. Emotional issues are often involved as well in women with endometriosis. In all these causes, hormonal imbalance is a common theme among the various factors.

Women diagnosed with the signs symptoms of endometriosis are frequently encouraged to have a hysterectomy. There ARE conditions for which hysterectomy is advisable or medically necessary, especially if malignant cancer is involved. The presence of malignant ovarian, uterine, or cervical cancer, uncontrollable bleeding, severe endometriosis (adenomyosis) and complex hyperplasia would justify the hysterectomy procedure. Otherwise, remember that hysterectomies are a permanent surgical procedure with numerous undesirable side effects.

If you have endometriosis symptoms, learn more about the natural approach recommended by naturopathic physicians without resorting to drastic measures such as hysterectomy. Read all you can about hormone imbalance, excess estrogen consequences and the role of natural progesterone in treating endometriosis symptoms and related women's health problems.

Copyright 2005 InfoSearch Publishing

Read more about endometriosis symptoms and treatment, endometriosis diet and endometriosis pregnancy issues. Olinda Rola is President of InfoSearch Publishing and webmaster of http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com - visit the website, take the online women's hormone health test plus find information on women's health issues such as hormone imbalance, estrogen, natural progesterone, fibroids, breast cancer, sexual health, healthy weight loss and more.

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