Nowadays, endometriosis is still hardly recognised in our society as a “real disease”. Even if the fight is progressing, with the implementation of a national strategy to fight this pathology that affects 1 in 10 women, endometriosis is still for many “periods that hurt”, and untruths and preconceived ideas still find their way into the media.
Together, we can fight the infoxes and raise awareness and information by re-establishing scientific and medical truths.
To begin with, what are the causes of endometriosis?
Although the pathophysiology of endometriosis is not unequivocal (metaplasia, induction, metastatic, immunological, genetic, stem cells, epigenetic and environmental…), it is essential to take into account the theory of regurgitation (known as the “implantation theory“) in order to understand the disease.
During menstruation, some of the blood is evacuated into the fallopian tubes, outside the uterus, and rises to disperse in the abdomino-pelvic cavity (abdomen), and not in the vagina as it should;
Am I different if I have endometriosis?
You are not different if you have endometriosis, because the disease cannot define you! However, your endometrium is different from that of other women! The endometrial cells (fragments of endometrium) that are not evacuated by the fallopian tubes during menstruation disperse and rise up into your abdominal cavity (abdomen), where they are destroyed by your immune system. This happens to all women as part of the menstrual cycle, whether you have endometriosis or not. If you have endometriosis, your endometrium, and therefore these endometrial cells, will be more resistant to your immune system, and will not disappear. They can then graft themselves, implant themselves on the organs near the uterus: your ovaries, fallopian tubes, intestine, bladder, ureter. These implants then cause cyclical bleeding in the organs where the endometrium has implanted. Depending on the location of the implants, these recurrent haemorrhages explain the occurrence of endometriotic ovarian cysts (endometriomas), pelvic pain, and digestive and/or urinary symptoms on the days preceding the period and/or during the period.
Does endometriosis have an impact on the immune system?
It has been scientifically validated that the immune profile is altered in endometriosis. This explains why the endometrial cells, after menstrual reflux, are not destroyed by the immune system as in most women.
These immune disturbances also explain the very frequent association of endometriosis with numerous pathologies in which the participation of the immune system is strongly involved, such as allergies, dysthyroidism, lupus, inflammatory bowel diseases, migraines, etc.
Is the endometrium a cyst?
Contrary to what we heard recently in a programme we won’t mention, the endometrium is not a cyst, but the internal mucosa of the uterus. It thickens at the beginning of each menstrual cycle, allowing the implantation of the embryo (if fertilisation occurs). Conversely, if there is no fertilisation, the endometrium detaches and is evacuated. This is when menstruation occurs.
LUNA helps you :
LUNA offers you the LunaEndoScore® test, the CE-certified medical device for the diagnosis of endometriosis, which will enable you to find out your own risk of endometriosis by answering a questionnaire based on medical expertise.
Can endometriosis be cured?
Today there is no definitive treatment that can “cure” endometriosis. There are various therapeutic strategies, such as hormone therapy, surgery and/or complementary medicine depending on the needs and wishes of each patient, which will make it possible to limit the progression of the disease and the impact on quality of lif
Can pregnancy be considered a "treatment"?
While it is true that some women experience less pain during pregnancy and/or after giving birth, pregnancy is not, and should not be considered a therapeutic solution. It is not systematic to experience less endometriosis pain when pregnant in the first place, it depends on each woman. It is not a treatment. Furthermore, most women who have experienced pain relief and/or a limitation in the evolution of the disease during this period, experience the pain and repercussions caused by endometriosis again a few months after their pregnancy.
Can endometriosis affect young women?
Young women can be affected by endometriosis, in fact there is no age limit for being affected by the disease. The first symptoms (dysmenorrhoea, menorrhagia, dyspareunia) appear for a certain number of women from the first menstrual period, at puberty, as well as during the first sexual relations.
Is it complicated to be diagnosed with endometriosis ?
Endometriosis is indeed a complex, heterogeneous and multifocal disease. Its complexity, the lack of possible training on its physiopathology, the speciality of imaging or even preconceived ideas, make access to a diagnosis sometimes difficult and the process too long for patients.
On average, it takes 7 years for a woman to be diagnosed with endometriosis.
You can download the Luna-Endometriosis application to make a diagnosis using a scientifically validated and CE certified questionnaire.