Guest guest Posted December 19, 2001 Report Share Posted December 19, 2001 Good Morning! Endometriosis Endometriosis is a condition where the cells that usually line the inside of the uterus are found in other areas of the body. This painful disease, which is estimated to affect millions of women worldwide, from menarche to menopause, and in some cases beyond, is a major cause of infertility. But there is promising news. Support networks are gaining strength, and researchers are developing new treatment methods to relieve symptoms and hopefully develop a cure for the disease. Tissues, normally found in the uterus, attach onto other organs and develops into growths. These growths are commonly found in the abdomen and on the ovaries, bowel, and bladder, among other locations.Each month this tissue builds up and breaks down, just as it would in the uterus, which results in bleeding. (There have even been reports of women with endometriosis in their nose who have monthly nosebleeds!) Because there is no way for the blood to leave the body the result is internal bleeding and often inflammation of the surrounding areas, formation of scar tissue, problems with bladder function, and a host of other problems, depending on the location of the tissue. Even small growths can be extremely painful and problematic.While the growths are usually not cancerous, less than 1 percent of women stricken with the disease develop cancer, the condition often worsens over time (though some women experience problems on and off). Endometriosis is the leading cause of female infertility.When the growths first appear they appear as tiny, dark spots scattered around the pelvic area. These small, flat patches are called implants. In some cases, the growths disappear, in others they become scar tissue or don't change at all. If endometriosis spreads to the ovaries it can produce cysts filled with blood, called endometriomas, which can range from very small to grapefruit-sized. These are sometimes called " chocolate cysts " because the blood turns a dark brownish-red. When they bleed or burst they can cause excruciating pain as well as inflammation and the creation of more scar tissue.The endometrial tissue can grow into the uterine wall, causing the uterus to become inflamed and sensitive -- this is called adenomyosis. The tissue can also become attached to the wall of the bladder. The repeated injury of the endometriosis creates scar tissue, called adhesions. A woman with moderate endometriosis may have scattered adhesions. With severe endometriosis, the adhesions invade the walls and tissue of the uterus, ovaries, intestines, and other pelvic organs, binding them together in some instances. Misguided Myths Debuncted While much remains unknown about endometriosis, there are a number myths surrounding the disease that have now been disregarded. *These include the belief that non-white women don't get the disease, that very young women don't suffer from it, and that it's not a serious disease because it doesn't kill. (While endometriosis itself may not kill women, related factors, including surgical complications, may result in death, although this is not a common occurrence.) *It's also important to remember that many women with endometriosis suffer severe pain and emotional hardship as a result of this condition. *It's commonly believed that pregnancy will protect against endometriosis, but recent studies have found no difference in incidence between women who have been pregnant and those who have not. It is clear that the condition is strongly affected by hormones, and hormone therapies are the favored treatment. Alternative Considerations: *Minimizing your intake of estrogen from outside sources, such as commercially raised animal foods. *Eat soy foods such as tofu, tempeh, and miso, which are rich in plant estrogens and seem to block more harmful forms of estrogen. *Reduce the fat in your diet. Learn more about fat in your diet: http://www.peacefulmind.com/weight_loss_frame.htm *Limit your alcohol intake. *Make sure you get nourishing food and eat plenty of fiber. *Exercise regularly. You may want to consider Yoga. Learn more about yoga here: http://www.peacefulmind.com/yoga_therapy_frame.htm *Cut dairy foods from your diet. Try all this for one month and see whether it reduces the pain. *Stress will worsen this condition. Learn more about stress here: http://www.peacefulmind.com/stress_frame.htm Visualization http://www.peacefulmind.com/meditation_frame.htm Hypnotherapy http://www.wingsofprotection.com Chinese medicine http://www.acupuncture.com Herbs http://www.peacefulmind.com/herbology_frame.htm ....can all be helpful. *A multivitamin with plenty of B complex and magnesium (about 50 milligrams of each of the B vitamins and 400 to 800 milligrams of magnesium), in addition to maintaining a low-fat, high-fiber diet. Andrew " Guruji " LMT, MT-BC, CA Peacefulmind.com Alternative medicine and therapies for healing mind, body & spirit! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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