| A Painful Illness: Endometriosis |
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By Kawanza L. Griffin
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel From her teen years until her mature adult life, Brenda Quinn remembers always having to carry an unwanted companion around with her: pain. "I would miss at least one day of work a month," she said. "And all the things I loved doing most, like dancing, I had to give up because it hurt too much -- it was just too painful." Quinn went to several doctors about her severe menstrual cramps, but was told that abdominal pains were normal and that she should exercise more to help ease the pain. She even recalls one doctor telling her the pain "was all in my head," which made her doubt the severity of her problem for many years. By her early 20s, Quinn was using pain medications up to three times a day but still could barely drag herself to work each day. Still, it wasn't until she was almost 30 years old that she was correctly diagnosed with endometriosis, and finally had the comfort of knowing that she had a real medical condition. "I was relieved to know that I wasn't crazy and that I hadn't been imagining things," said Quinn, now 39. "There really was something wrong with me." Endometriosis is a painful, chronic disease that occurs when tissue normally found in the uterus appears in other areas such as the outer surface of the uterus, the lining of the pelvic cavity, or in the abdomen on the ovaries. The misplaced tissue develops into growths or lesions, which then respond to the menstrual cycle in the same way that the tissue of the uterine lining does. However, unlike menstrual blood that flows from the uterus and out of the body through the vagina, the blood and tissue shed from endometrial growths has no way of leaving the body, resulting in internal bleeding, breakdown of the blood and tissue from the lesions, and inflammation. Left untreated, it can cause pain, infertility, scar tissue formation, adhesions and bowel problems. The most common symptom of endometriosis is pelvic pain, which may or may not be constant, but that interferes with the ability to perform daily activities. However, fatigue, diarrhea or painful bowel movements during menstruation, painful intercourse and heavy or irregular bleeding also are signs of the condition. According to the Endometriosis Association, at least 5.5 million women and girls of childbearing age are affected by the condition in the United States and Canada. While the condition is common, it is not readily diagnosed, said Mary Lou Ballweg, director of the association. "There's a lot of taboo and stigma around the menstrual cycle," she said. "And very often, physicians tend not to believe women when they report these symptoms." This month, the association is sponsoring the first annual Endometriosis Screening Month to help improve diagnosis of the disease. The organization hopes to educate both women and doctors about its symptoms and importance. The Endometriosis Association staff and doctors have developed a self-test to help women determine if they may be at risk of endometriosis, based on its registry of more than 7,000 cases. A score is given per answer, and based on totals, women are advised to contact a doctor to determine the next step. "The only way endometriosis can be confirmed is by surgery," said Estil Strawn Jr., an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the Medical College of Wisconsin and director of the division of reproductive endocrinology and infertility at the college. "But using laparoscopy provides both diagnosis and treatment because while inside, the surgeon can remove or repair any damaged tissue." The procedure takes about an hour, and women are often able to go home the same day, he said. Strawn warns that even after treatment, endometriosis can return. "It is a very difficult disease to treat," he said. "Some women will require surgery, (and) some may be able to be treated medically, but there is no one treatment that is guaranteed to provide a complete cure for the disease." (For news and information about Milwaukee visit www.jsonline.com. Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service.)
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