Posted by Kristian on July 15, 2003 at 02:08:32:
In Reply to: Kristian posted by Teacher on July 15, 2003 at 01:47:36:
Endometriosis is kind of a tricky thing, really. Endo is basically internal bleeding. When a woman has her period, all the blood is supposed to be shed externally. In a woman with endo, some of the blood backs up (kind of like clogged plumbing) and forms scar tissue on the reproductive organs. There's no cure for endometriosis, and if it goes undetected and untreated it can really cause more serious health problems due to the scar tissue spreading to other organs, such as your bladder, kidneys, liver, stomach, cervix, and in rare cases, your heart and even your brain. (Don't ask me how that one happens!) Most doctors reccommend trying to get pregnant if you're diagnosed with endo, b/c although there is no cure, the hormones produced during pregnancy can shrink the scar tissue and put the endo into remission. In most cases, if you are able to conceive once, you don't have trouble conceiving again. The treatment I received for my endo was surgery first, then I had menopause induced for 6 months by way of Lupron shots. The hormones produced during menopause also help shrink the scar tissue. I then took birth control in a unique way for a year to stop my periods (no bleeding, no scar tissue forms). I stopped the birth control when my husband and I got married and we immediately began trying for a baby, according to my doctor's suggestion. Eight months later, we conceived. The side effects of endo aren't a whole lot of fun. They include extremely heavy, long, irregular periods, severe cramps and not just during your period but all the time, and painful intercourse if the scar tissue spreads to the vaginal area. It can also cause complications during pregnancy, such as spontaneous abortion due to spasms of the uterus, incompetent cervix, and many others. My endo spread to my uterus, ovaries, vaginal area, and my bladder so I get a lot of bladder infections and have suffered kidney infections twice from them. I am hoping that my pregnancy will clear up the problem and I won't have any more problems after this. There are a lot of miracles that occur in women who have endo and yet still are able to conceive and have a healthy baby, and they never have problems again. Other women are not so lucky and end up having to have a complete hysterectomy. I thank God every day that wasn't me! Usually it doesn't show up in someone so young, but I've always been one of a kind. :o) That's about all the info I have...I'm not sure that's what you were looking for, but I hope it helped. I'm very happy your friend was able to have a baby. I hope she continues to have good health. Well, guess I'll wrap this up. Have a good night, and God bless!
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