Endometriosis and its Complications

 In this post, I will discuss the complications that I experienced due to endometriosis.

The first complication that I experienced was difficulty in conceiving. I was ovulating but cysts, scarring, blockage, and adhesion caused by endometriosis made conception very challenging. I discussed this at length in my previous post "Endometriosis: Married with No Kids".

Another complication I experienced was cysts and myomas. I had two previous surgeries to remove the cysts but because of the endometriosis, they kept on recurring. After my second surgery in November 2010, I also started having myomas. The difference between cysts and myomas is that cysts form inside or outside the ovaries and are filled with fluid; while myomas form in tissues around the ovaries (usually the uterus) and are actually composed of muscle cells and dense tissues. In my case, only the cysts caused so much pain and heavy bleeding, but my myomas were "harmless". 

I also experienced bowel problems. I had difficulties with my bowel movement. I had to have yoghurt at least once a day in order for me to move every day.  It was only during my third surgery in 2019 that I and my doctors discovered that I had extreme intestinal adhesions due to endometriosis. 

Around 2012 or 2013, I found out that I also had hematosalpinx after having my bi-annual pelvic ultrasound. Hematosalpinx occurs when menstrual flow gets clogged up in the fallopian tubes instead of completely being excreted by the body. This causes the fallopian tube to inflame. I think the biggest size of my hematosalpinx before medication was 12cm. 

Another complication that I had was adenomyosis, which was only discovered when I had my TAHBSO (Total Abdominal Hysterectomy and Bilateral Salpingo-Oophorectomy) in December 2019.  It never came up in all my pelvic ultrasounds, and I was surprised that it was listed down as one of my conditions in the Surgery Report. I never asked my Ob-Gyn about it after my surgery (I kept on forgetting, honestly).  Adenomyosis occurs when endometrial tissues grow within the uterine walls. Adenomyosis usually remains undetected. 

Other than the major complications I listed above, the other common complications are constant pelvic pain, fatigue, abdominal pain, back pains, and heavy bleeding. Bleeding can occur anytime and not only during menstruation. In my case, I experienced bleeding if I had physically exhausting activities during the week. 

If you have friends and relatives who are diagnosed with endometriosis, be more understanding of them. The pain and stress caused by endometriosis can not only affect them physically but emotionally and mentally as well. 

REFERENCES: 

Fertilitypedia. (n.d.) "Hematosalpinx". Retrieved from https://fertilitypedia.org/edu/diagnoses/hematosalpinx

NCH Healthcare System. (2015, April). "Adenomyosis". Retrieved from https://www.nchmd.org/education/mayo-health-library/details/CON-20369122

USA Fibroid Centers. (2020, June). "Ovarian Cysts and Fibroids: What's the Difference?" Retrieved from https://www.usafibroidcenters.com/blog/ovarian-cysts-and-fibroids-whats-the-difference/