Table of contents:
- Main symptoms
- Result:
- How to confirm the diagnosis
- Can ovarian endometriosis interfere with pregnancy?
- How the treatment is done
2023 Author: Benjamin Dyson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-21 01:37
Ovarian endometriosis, also called endometrioma, is a situation in which endometrial tissue, which should only be inside the uterus, also develops in the ovary, which can lead to difficulty getting pregnant and very intense cramping during menstrual period.
The doctor may find out that the woman has endometriosis in the ovary by transvaginal or pelvic ultrasound, in which the presence of an ovarian cyst larger than 2 cm and filled with dark fluid is observed.
The treatment for endometriosis in the ovary indicated by the gynecologist may vary according to the woman's age and extent of endometriosis, and the use of medication to relieve symptoms or surgery to remove the ovary may be indicated.
Main symptoms
Ovarian endometriosis is considered a benign change, however it tends to cause very uncomfortable signs and symptoms such as:
- Very strong cramping during menstruation;
- Blood in stool, especially during menstruation;
- Pain during intimate contact.
In addition, women with endometriosis also tend to have difficulty getting pregnant, even after 6 months to 1 year of trying.
If you think you may have endometriosis, select your symptoms to find out what the odds are:
- 1. Intense pain in the pelvic area that gets worse during menstruation Yes No
- 2. Abundant menstruation Yes No
- 3. Cramping during intercourse Yes No
- 4. Pain when urinating or defecating Yes No
- 5. Diarrhea or constipation Yes No
- 6. Fatigue and excessive tiredness Yes No
- 7. Difficulty conceiving Yes No
Result:
Make an appointment with a specialist
How to confirm the diagnosis
The diagnosis is made by the gynecologist based on the vaginal examination and imaging tests, such as transvaginal ultrasound, in which bowel emptying must be performed previously, or through magnetic resonance imaging. Thus, through these tests, the doctor will be able to know the extent of ovarian endometriosis and indicate the most appropriate treatment.
Can ovarian endometriosis interfere with pregnancy?
As the ovary is compromised, the amount of eggs produced becomes smaller, which causes a woman's fertility to be impaired. The chances of pregnancy in women with ovarian endometriosis decrease each month as the disease progresses. In addition, the doctor may recommend surgery to remove this tissue, especially when the disease is more advanced, but the surgery itself can negatively affect the ovary, impairing the woman's fertility.
Thus, the doctor can recommend that the woman start trying to get pregnant as soon as possible, or he can indicate the egg freezing technique, so that in the future the woman can decide if she wants to do artificial insemination and have children.
How the treatment is done
Treatment will depend on the woman's age, reproductive desire, symptoms and extent of the disease. In cases where the tissue is less than 3 cm, the use of medication to reduce symptoms can be effective, but in more severe cases, where the cyst is more than 4 cm, laparoscopic surgery is indicated to scrape the endometrial tissue or even removal of the ovaries.
Endometrioma does not go away on its own, nor with the use of birth control pills, but these can reduce the risk of developing new endometriosis in the ovary after its removal through surgery.
In some cases, the gynecologist may also indicate the use of some medications to relieve symptoms and prevent the progression of endometrioma, however this indication is made more frequently for women who are already in menopause.
Watch the video with Dr. Helizabet Ribeiro, a gynecologist specializing in endometriosis who clarifies all doubts about this disease:
