What are the symptoms and causes of endometriosis?

I believe that many female friends have heard of endometriosis, because many female infertility patients are caused by this disease. So, what are the symptoms of endometriosis? What causes it?

Under normal circumstances, the endometrium covers the surface of the uterine cavity. If due to some factors, the endometrium grows in other parts of the body, it can become endometriosis. This ectopic endometrium histologically not only has endometrial glands, but is also surrounded by endometrial stroma. Its function changes significantly with the estrogen level, that is, it changes with the menstrual cycle, but only part of it is affected by progesterone, which can produce a small amount of "menstruation" and cause various clinical phenomena.

The following are symptoms of endometriosis:

1. Dysmenorrhea. Progressive dysmenorrhea is a common and prominent feature of endometriosis, which can occur before, during and after menstruation. Some women have severe dysmenorrhea and need to stay in bed or take pain medication, or even roll on the bed or hit their heads in pain. The pain often worsens with the menstrual cycle and disappears when the menstruation ends.

2. Infertility. About 50% of endometriosis patients are accompanied by infertility; among patients with unexplained infertility, about 30-40% suffer from endometriosis. Infertility in patients with endometriosis is often caused by factors such as pelvic masses, adhesions, fallopian tube obstruction, poor follicle development or ovulation disorders caused by the disease.

The causes of endometriosis are:

1. Menstrual disorders. Especially shortened menstrual cycle, frequent menstruation, heavy menstrual flow, prolonged menstruation, abdominal pain during menstruation, etc. These menstrual disorders increase the chances of menstrual blood reflux and the release of endometrial fragments.

2. Multiple abortions and caesarean sections. When multiple abortions are performed, it is difficult to prevent endometrial fragments and blood from entering the pelvic cavity through the fallopian tubes, causing endometriosis.

3. Abnormal position of the uterus. The normal position of the uterus is forward tilted and flexed to facilitate the outflow of menstrual blood. If the uterus is backward tilted and flexed, it is easy to cause poor outflow of menstrual blood and create opportunities for menstrual blood to flow back into the abdominal cavity.