Endometriosis Explained

This site is for women with chronic pelvic pain with, or without, endometriosis.  It includes a new explanation of endometriosis, chronic pelvic pain, and, other gynaecological problems, that has been published in peer review journals in 2010.

Normal uterus and ovaries.

The

“traditional” view

of endometriosis says that the lining of your womb (endometrium) passes up your Fallopian tubes to spill over the organs in your pelvis (retrograde menstruation). The deposits of endometrium stick to different organs including your uterus, bladder and rectum as well as the ligaments that support them (uterosacral ligaments) and the lining of the pelvis (peritoneum). At the time of your period these deposits of endometrium bleed and cause pain in your pelvis during your period.

BUT most women with endometriosis have pain for one to two weeks before their period starts – the “traditional” view does not account for these symptoms. Neither does the “traditional” view provide a clear explanation for retrograde menstruation, endometrial attachment, or, other clinical symptoms.

The

“new” view

of endometriosis says that injuries to your pelvic nerves during childbirth, or, during straining on the toilet damage your pelvic nerves in the muscle of your womb. As a result the muscle does not contract smoothly – it is incoordinate – and causes some of your menstrual loss to flow backwards up your Fallopian tubes. The lining of your womb spills over your pelvic organs and attaches to injuries in your pelvis.

Having a baby, gynaecological surgery, and, straining during defaecation cause these injuries to pelvic nerves. (it is possible that some occur in infancy (constipation from bottle-feeding), or, in early childhood (problems during toilet-training). The first thing you know about them is your first period when changes in blood flow cause intense pain.)

Accompanying injuries to your pelvic nerves result in dramatic regrowth of nerves leading to symptoms several years after the injury (usually 5-10 years). Regrowth of nerves may occur in the uterus, cervix, uterosacral ligaments, vagina, bladder & rectum and result in pelvic pain, painful periods, painful sex, frequency passing urine and irritable bowel symptoms. Traditional surgery that includes ablation of mild or severe endometrial deposits, does not deal with underlying injuries to nerves and my explain their lack of effectiveness.

The “new” view explains the key features of endometriosis including retrograde menstruation, attachment of endometrium and the development of symptoms.

To read this page in Chinese click here