OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT ENDOMETRIOSIS
Can other symptoms occur as a consequence of endometriosis?
Because some of the symptoms of endometriosis such as pain and infertility can make the sufferer feel tired, miserable and out of control, women may also experience lethargy, malaise, depression, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), or insomnia.
Is endometriosis a progressive condition?
No one really knows what happens to endometriosis if it is left untreated because there have been no comprehensive studies conducted to investigate this problem.
Most gynaecologists presume that endometriosis is usually a progressive condition. In other words, it is a condition which – if left untreated – progressively worsens in extent and severity for as long the woman menstruates.
The rate of progression is thought to vary. It is believed that in most women the rate of progression is fairly slow and that the disease gradually worsens over a period of years. In some women the rate of progression is thought to be so slow that their endometriosis does not progress significantly and so they have mild disease for many years. In contrast, it appears that in a few women the rate of progression is rapid and in some cases it may be so rapid that their endometriosis progresses from mild to severe in a matter of months. Some women seem to have spontaneous periods of remission.
It is impossible to predict the likely rate of progression in any particular woman.
Endometriosis recurs frequently following treatment and approximately 50% of women will have a recurrence of their symptoms, regardless of the type of treatment they undertake.
Unfortunately, some women will have a recurrence within months of their treatment as the rate of recurrence is highest in the first twelve months after treatment. Others will have several years of remission.
Women with severe disease or large endometriomas are more likely to have a recurrence of their endometriosis and their length of remission will usually be shorter.
It is not known if recurrences are due to the presence of residual implants and cysts that were not eradicated by the treatment or whether they are due to the deposition of new implants — or a combination of both these factors. According to one researcher, the higher recurrence rates that are seen in the first year following treatment and in women with severe disease would indicate that recurrences are more likely to be due to the growth of residual implants and cysts.
Occasionally, a recurrence of endometriosis may be experienced following menopause if hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is being used, but usually this recurrence can be controlled by altering the dosages used in the HRT.
*8/41/5*
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.