Diagnosed With Endometriosis? What You Need to Know

After years of suffering from cramps and painful periods, you finally have an answer: you've been diagnosed with endometriosis. While you're probably happy to finally know what's wrong, you probably also have a few questions about what this diagnosis means for your future and your health. Hopefully these answers will give you some peace of mind.

Will you be able to have children?

This is the first question that comes to most ladies' minds when they're diagnosed with endometriosis. The answer really is "it depends." Though many women with endometriosis are able to become pregnant, it does affect fertility in 30% to 50% of sufferers. The more serious your endometriosis, the more likely it is that your fertility will be affected. However, there's really no way to know for certain whether or not you'll struggle to get pregnant until you try. At least if you do struggle, you will know why -- and your doctor will know where to start in recommending procedures to help you become pregnant.

Will the pain ever get better?

There's no actual cure for endometriosis, and this news can be scary. However, this does not mean you're doomed to years of horrible cramps and pain. For many women, taking birth control pills or hormonal supplements greatly helps ease the pain of endometriosis. Your doctor can recommend the pill that's right for you. It's important to note that the pain relief that comes from these remedies only lasts for as long as you take them. If you stop taking the pills, your previous endometriosis symptoms are likely to reappear.

Is endometriosis dangerous?

Most mild cases are not overly dangerous, other than causing serious pain. Once you get your symptoms under control with hormones, you should be in the clear. However, your doctor will probably conduct an ultrasound to determine how severe your endometriosis is. If you have very excessive tissue growth outside of your uterus, the tissue may pose a risk to your other organs. Most often, it may impede bladder function or kidney function. If this is the case, your doctor may recommend surgery to remove the extrauterine tissue. 

If you've been diagnosed with endometriosis, realize that you are not alone. Thousands of women in the US suffer from this condition. Though it was under-diagnosed in the past, it is beginning to gain more recognition, and so treatment options are growing more and more effective. For more information, contact a business such as Women's Care Inc.

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