in this issue
Sonja Kristiansen, MD
Medical Director & co-founder
of
the
Infertility Center
of Houston, Dr. Kristiansen is double board certified in
Reproductive
Endocrinology and Obstetrics & Gynecology and
specializes in surgical and IVF procedures.
She has
advanced training in hysteroscopy, laparoscopy, and
microtubal reconstruction. She also works with
female endocrine abnormalities relating to
menstrual and reproductive development.
Quick Links...
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Greetings,
Women are, unfortunately, often taught that pain in
the pelvic region is simply a fact of life that they must
endure. The problem is that while some minor
discomfort from ovulation and menstruation may be
expected, acute and chronic pain are often red flags
that warrant attention. The result of quietly
enduring "female" pain can be infertility.
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The Commonly Undiagnosed Condition
A very common cause of female cyclical pain is
endometriosis, sometimes referred to simply as "endo."
Endo is believed to occur in up to a quarter of all
women, and of that group, perhaps 40 percent will
experience related difficulty getting pregnant.
Even though the incidence of endo is high, it's
diagnosis can often be a challenge. Many women report
having gone for years to several physicians, seeking
the cause of and treatment for their symptoms. It's
important to note here that some cases of even severe
endo may not cause noticeable pain. Accurate
diagnosis is essential to effective treatment. The
surest way to determine that a woman's pain, and
possibly infertility, is being caused by endo is to
perform a laparoscopic examination, a minor outpatient
surgery.
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What IS Endo?
Endometriosis is a condition in which the tissue that
lines the uterus, known as the endometrium, actually
strays outside of the uterus and attaches to other
areas within the abdominal cavity. The result is that
this tissue continues to respond in a cyclical way to
the woman's changing hormone levels, which leads to
pain and abnormal bleeding. The woman eventually
develops internal scar tissue around her organs, and
this can lead to blocked fallopian tubes, interference
with ovulation, and even organ damage.
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What Can Be Done?
Endometriosis is a recurring disease -- symptoms can
be treated, but for many women, there is no lifelong
cure. For women who are trying to conceive, the best
treatment may include both removal of the affected
tissue and any scarring via laparoscopy, followed by
medication or IVF if the endometriosis is severe.
Depending on the severity of the damage already
inflicted by endo on a woman's organs, conception
success is quite common with treatment. There can be
a recurrence of endo following treatment. The
treatment plan for a patient with endo may change
over time as her reproductive needs change.
Unfortunately, not enough is known about
endometriosis to be able to say how someone can
avoid having it. Studies are indicating that there is a
genetic link to the disease, and some have pointed at
possible immune system precursors.
What can be done is to know your own body and to
not accept any old adages about pain being a woman's
plight. If you experience monthly discomfort (or more
often than monthly) that concerns you, see a specialist
and inquire about the possibility of endometriosis. Let
other women know, too, that this common disease can
be diagnosed and properly managed with professional
care.
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In Closing
As always, my staff and I welcome your questions. One
of the benefits we offer to our patients is the
knowledge that, as women, your concerns will be
addressed with respect and understanding. If you're
living with pain, I encourage you to look into the
causes -- treatment may improve your quality of life
and help you conceive.
Sincerely,
Sonja B. Kristiansen, MD
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