NO symptoms of endometriosis?? How?
Endometriosis is a debilitating disease for some (ie. painful periods, bleeding and pain during ovulation, uncomfortable intercourse, heavy bleeding and chronic pelvic pain). However, many women don’t know they have it, they just can’t fall pregnant.
When uterine endometrium is located in places other than the uterus, thats endometriosis. Want to know all science? Then technically speaking, endometriosis is a pelvic inflammatory process with altered function of immune-related cells and increased number of activated macrophages in the peritoneal environment that secrete various local products, such as growth factors and cytokines. What does all that mean? The endometriosis cells implant and respond to the body’s hormone before becoming endometriotic lesions and then scars.
As horrific as all that sounds, there is “sub clinical” endo.
“Sub Clinical” means a disease is not severe enough to present definite or readily observable symptoms. The incidence of “subclinical” endometriosis is thought to be around 42%. It doesn’t seem to matter how healthy you are or what your BMI is.
What we call Endometriosis is probably several different diseases lumped together, not just “one” thing. We suspect it is caused by multiple factors. Unfortunately, much more research is needed!! There are several theories as to why endometriosis occurs. We have not yet found a definitive answer.
Want to know something truly alarming??? There is an average delay of four to 11 years from the onset of symptoms to diagnosis.
Women who are unaware of their diagnosis (obvi) can’t get it treated!!
Fertility is impacted by endometriosis in many different ways. Scar tissue and adhesions can block the fallopian tubes and uterus. Therefore, the uterus is inhospitable for embryo growth and egg quality is damaged.
During the time you go untreated, the symptoms can get worse and multiply. Pain increases, further negatively impacting fertility.
One reason for this delay, is that endometriosis (many times) needs to be diagnosed through an invasive surgical procedure. Additionally, you may have to CONVINCE your doctor that the pain is not just “normal” period cramps.
Women report that when their OBGYN, or fertility doctor is not the same gender, race, or sexual orientation as as them, they are belied less, and have a hard time convincing. In psychology, this is called “affinity bias” but there are other reasons of historical racial prejudice too.
Women are believed less about their pain, and some minority women have reported being endlessly questioned for “drug seeking” behavior, or essentially accused of having an STI (STD) i.e. pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).
How is sub-clinical endometriosis diagnose? There is one test, called ReceptivaDX.
ReceptivaDx is a first of its kind test for the detection of inflammation of the uterine lining. Women who test positive for ReceptivaDx are 5 times less likely to succeed in IVF.
