Endometriosis is a common health problem in women. It is a common cause of severe recurring pain in abdomen & lower back. One in every 5 women belonging to 13 to 45 age group suffer from endometriosis. Yet, it is not uncommon in women after menopause.

The primary problem lies with the ‘endometrium’, which is the normal inner lining of the uterus. The uterus houses the baby when the woman is pregnant. In endometriosis, these cells of inner lining of the uterus grow in places other than the uterus. Most commonly, these cells are found growing in locations like the ovaries, fallopian tubes, or anywhere within the pelvic cavity. In rare cases, these tissues are found in the lungs, skin, eye, diaphragm and the brain.

In normal conditions, the endometrium within the uterus is shed periodically during the bleeding that occurs in the menstrual cycle. But, in endometriosis, the endometrium being situated elsewhere in the body is unable to exit the body. Nevertheless, it proliferates and cyclically, the bleeding also occurs, but into the body cavity wherein it is situated!! The endometrium detaches itself, and remains shed within the cavity. The shed materials consist of degraded blood and tissues, which are sufficient to cause irritation and often severe pain in the affected area. Endometriosis depending upon its location can even affect the normal functions of organs like bladder, bowels and the intestines.

Symptoms

The most common presentation is pelvic pain. Largely, the pains are timed with the occurrence of the menstrual cycle though it can certainly occur at other times.
These pains vary in nature, though commonly they are severe, crampy and spasmodic. These can cause nausea and vomiting also.

Pain may be felt:

• Before/during/after menstruation, progressively these pains become worse with every cycle.
• During ovulation, i.e. around 14 days before the onset of the menstrual cycle
• In the bowel during menstruation
• When passing urine
• During or after sexual intercourse
• In the lower back region
• Heavy, excessive menstrual bleeding
• Nausea and vomiting

Other symptoms may include:

• Diarrhea or constipation (in particular in connection with menstruation)
• Abdominal bloating (again, in connection with menstruation)
• Heavy or irregular bleeding
• Fatigue

Causes

Many theories have been put forth to explain the cause of endometriosis, though none till date have clearly explained it! So, the real cause of endometriosis remains unknown.

Some theories worth considering are:

• Excessive production of estrogen which is a major sex hormone in women
• Metaplasia, a condition in which the endometrial tissue spontaneously starts growing in a location by replacing the native tissue cells of that site.
• Retrograde menstruation, a condition where some amount of the normal menstrual fluid flows back into the pelvis. Generally when this occurs, the defense (immune) cells are capable of clearing away this back-flow. However, in women prone to endometriosis, the contents of the back-flow latch onto other neighboring tissue and begin to proliferate.
• Genetic predisposition is another factor worth considering as women with first degree relatives suffering from endometriosis are 5 times more susceptible to endometriosis themselves.

Complications

Endometriosis can cause a number of complications in some persons:

• Acute abdomen: this is considered an emergency. Endometriosis affecting the intestines in particular can cause intestinal obstruction giving rise to acute, spasmodic, abdominal pain with nausea and vomiting.
• Collapse of lungs during menstruation (catamenial peumothorax)
• Infertility due to obstruction of the fallopian tubes

Homeopathic treatment :

Homeopathy has its time-tested usefulness.

Drugs used in endometriosis are geared towards altering the activity of the ovaries and therefore slow down the growth of the endometrial tissue. Homeopathic medicines possibly depress the over-secretion of estrogen by the endometrial tissue. Homeopathic medicines are unique in the aspect that they can act as immune-modulators and possibly enhance the action of the immune-system in clearing away the irritating factors in endometriosis.