Okay guys and gals, this isn't the most comfortable topic of conversation, but it must be said.
I am going to post some information on a condition that affects women, I know it is a bit long, but please take the time to read it and if you find that you or a woman you know suffers from any of the symptoms (two or more) then please pass it along and recommend that they visit their doctor to discuss having it checked out. It is not necessary for women to suffer as some do!
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Endometriosis
An overview of endometriosis: what it is, what its symptoms are, and how it is diagnosed and treated.
Endometriosis is a disease affecting women in their reproductive years. It was widely undiagnosed until recently. The name, as you've probably guessed, comes from the word endometrium. The clinical definition of endometriosis is an "abnormal growth of endometrial cells." Roughly 5.5 million women throughout North America have endometriosis. Endometriosis was at one time coined "husbanditis" because the pain that characterizes endometriosis was seen as a woman's excuse to get out of her marital duties. In the past, treating women who complained of pelvic pain ranged from tranquilizers to hysterectomies. Unfortunately, many women today are still being told that their symptoms are "in their heads" when, in fact, endometriosis is a physical disease causing real physical symptoms. What happens is that endometrial tissue forms outside the uterus in other areas of the body. This tissue then develops into small growths, or tumors. (Doctors may also refer to these growths as nodules, lesions, or implants.) These growths are usually benign (noncancerous) and are simply a normal type of tissue in an abnormal location. Cancers that arise in conjunction with endometriosis appear to be very rare.
The most common location of these endometrial growths is in the pelvic region, which affects the ovaries, the fallopian tubes, the ligaments supporting the uterus, the outer surface of the uterus, and the lining of the pelvic cavity. Forty to 50 percent of the growths are in the ovaries and fallopian tubes. Sometimes the growths are found in abdominal surgery scars, on the intestines, in the rectum, and on the bladder, vagina, cervix, and vulva. Other locations include the lung, arm, thigh, and other places outside the abdomen, but these are rare.
Since these growths are in fact pieces of uterine lining, they behave like uterine lining, responding to the hormonal cycle and trying to shed every month. These growths are blind -- they can't see where they are and think they're in the uterus. This is a huge problem during menstruation; when the growths start "shedding," there's no vagina for them to pass through, so they have nowhere to go. The result is internal bleeding, degeneration of the blood and tissue shed from the growths, inflammation of the surrounding areas, and formation of scar tissue. Depending on where these growths are located, they can rupture and spread to new areas, cause intestinal bleeding or obstruction (if they're in or near the intestines), or interfere with bladder function (if they're on or near the bladder). Infertility affects about 30 to 40 percent of endometriosis sufferers, and as the disease progresses, infertility is often inevitable.
The most common symptoms of endometriosis are pain before and during periods (much worse than normal menstrual cramps), pain during or after intercourse, and heavy or irregular bleeding. Other symptoms may include fatigue, painful bowel movements with periods, lower back pain with periods, diarrhea and/or constipation with periods, and intestinal upset with periods. If the bladder is involved, there may be painful urination and blood in the urine with periods. Irregular menstrual cycles and heavier flows are also associated with endometriosis, but women with severe endometriosis usually continue to have regular, albeit painful, periods. Some women with endometriosis may have no symptoms at all.
It's important to note that the amount of pain is not necessarily related to the extent or size of the growths. Tiny growths, called petechiae, have been found to be more active in producing prostaglandins, which may explain the significant symptoms that seem to occur with smaller growths.
The Stages of Endometriosis
Endometriosis can vary in terms of severity. Like other diseases, it is categorized into four stages -- the higher the number, the more severe the endometriosis. Stage I is when your endometriosis is minimal and still very thin and "filmy," hence easier to treat. Stage II is mild endometriosis; the endometriosis is still on the thin side but is situated more deeply into your surrounding tissues. Stage III is moderate endometriosis; here, your endometriosis is denser mixed with some Stage I or Stage II symptoms. Stage IV means severe endometriosis. In this case, the endometriosis is dense and deep, a bad combination.
Signs to Watch for
Since endometriosis includes so many seemingly unrelated symptoms, it's often missed or simply misdiagnosed. The following is a checklist of symptoms to watch for. If you have at least two of these symptoms during your period or even experience them chronically, you may want to get checked out for endometriosis.
- pelvic pain and/or painful intercourse
- infertility (often the only symptom women experience, even with Stage IV)
- abnormal cycles or periods
- nausea and/or vomiting
- exhaustion
- bladder problems
- frequent infections
- dizziness
- painful defecation
- lower backaches
- irritable bowels (loose, watery, and often bloody diarrhea often mistaken for irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS)
- other stomach problems
- low-grade fever
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If you know of any women or girl who suffers from any of these symptoms regularly or more than 2 at once - advise them to go to their doctor and to keep going until something is done! Something can be done about it and the sooner the better. Most women are not diagnosed until after they have suffered for 6 to 7 (or more) years, and this is not necessary!
Particularly, if you know of young girls that suffer greatly, tell them to go to their doctors, see a gynecologist, do whatever it takes until the cause is found for their suffering. The sooner it is found out, the sooner it can be taken care of!
[ March 14, 2002: Message edited by: Mrs Sarah Moss ]
Unfortunately, due to the nature of this disease, it can cause infertility and that pretty much eliminates option #1 if the disease has progressed to that point. 
Be it never far from my mind the awesome works my God can do!