Women who suffer from immobilising menstrual pain, should see a doctor rather than dismissing the pain as ‘what happens to every woman’ because it doesn’t. This might be due to Endometriosis – a medical condition where the tissue of the Endometrium (the lining of the womb) starts growing out of the uterus.
“Excruciating menstrual pain is symptom of Endometriosis, which can take years to be diagnosed if not addressed on time,” said Dr Laura Melado, IVF Specialist, IVI Middle East Fertility Clinic, Abu Dhabi.
Endometriosis is an inflammatory condition in which cells that usually form the lining of the uterus are present elsewhere, such as the ovaries, fallopian tubes, pelvis and rectum. Endometriosis can cause pelvic pain, irregular bleeding during periods, bloating, bowel problems, exhaustion and mood swings. While Endometriosis is primarily found in young women, its occurrence is not related to ethnic or social group distinctions. It is believed that a surprising 10.8 million women around the globe suffer from Endometriosis with one-third of women struggling to conceive.
“In the past few years, there has been an increase in number of women suffering from Endometriosis in UAE. However, the awareness about the illness has surged too, given great diagnostic and treatment modalities like ultrasound, MRI and laparoscopy for treatment. Sadly, there is no cure for Endometriosis as of now, but there are pain management treatments available along with infertility treatment options. While several women who suffer from Endometriosis have less chances to conceive, the new-age advancements in medical science have paved way for advanced infertility treatment in UAE and making the dream possible,” added Dr Laura.
While the causes for Endometriosis are unclear, it is believed that more than one in 10 women of reproductive age live with this condition. In addition, Endometriosis causes adhesions and scar tissue, which cause the internal organs to get stuck to each other. This may result in blockage of tubes or ovaries, leading to infertility.
“The inflammation and irritation caused by the Endometriosis can affect fertility. Inflammation causes scarring which prevents the egg to reach its destination. In addition, inflammation also damages the sperm and eggs when they are exposed to the inhospitable environment caused due to Endometriosis. However, new-age reproductive technologies like In-Vitro Fertilization are now being widely used to improve chances of conception,” concluded Dr Laura.
The treatment for Endometriosis is essentially chosen by each individual patient in consultation with the doctor, depending on symptoms, age and fertility. For many women, adequate treatment requires a combination of various treatments over their lifetime. According to Dr Laura, In-Vitro Fertilization can enhance the fertility levels of women with Endometriosis. However, in her opinion, patients should seek the help of experts only to avoid any complications.
With an excellent team of over 1,000 medical professionals, IVI Fertility delivers a success rate of over 70 percent, the highest in the Middle East. IVI Fertility has three clinics in the Middle East – Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Muscat, which strive to offer patients fertility treatments that are honest, transparent and customised to their medical conditions coupled with the best clinical practices. IVI Fertility has a patient first philosophy and believes in Science, Safety & Success.
