The Montefiore Hospital: diagnosing & treating Endometriosis

Consultant gynaecologist Jenny Lo on diagnosing & treating Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a painful and often debilitating condition that affects around one in ten women of child-bearing age in the UK. Jenny Lo, a consultant gynaecologist at the Montefiore Hospital, explains what it is and how it can be diagnosed and treated.

What is endometriosis?
It is a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the womb grows in different parts of the body, most usually in the pelvis, but it has been found very rarely in the lungs and even the brain. This tissue behaves like the tissue in the womb – it responds to hormones in the body and if no pregnancy occurs, it breaks down and causes bleeding. However, while the body gets rid of the broken down lining of the womb during a monthly period, the tissue in other parts of the body has no outlet and as it breaks down, it can cause inflammation and scarring to the area around it. This often results in severe pain and other symptoms such as bloating, fatigue and fertility problems.

Diagnosing endometriosis
One of the problems with endometriosis is that it is notoriously difficult to diagnose. A survey by the support charity Endometriosis UK revealed that the average length of diagnosis was eight years! The main reason for slow diagnosis is that the symptoms endometriosis commonly causes are like symptoms for many other conditions, so these need to be ruled out first. Another reason could be that many women don’t like to “make a fuss” and try to put up with the pain rather than seeking medical help.

The only way that endometriosis can be conclusively diagnosed is via a procedure known as a laparoscopy. This is an investigation carried out under anaesthetic by a gynaecologist to see whether endometriosis is present. A miniature camera is inserted into the abdomen through a tiny incision through the belly button. The camera transmits images to a screen which will show the gynaecologist where the endometriosis is and to what extent is affecting the surrounding tissue and organs.

Treating endometriosis
For many women it is a great relief to be diagnosed with endometriosis as they may have lived with the pain and other symptoms for many years. The choice of treatment for endometriosis very much depends on a patient’s symptoms and desire to preserve fertility. It can range from taking medication to having surgery under anaesthetic including having removal of the womb, ovaries and all the endometriosis tissue.

Jenny Lo is a consultant gynaecologist at the Montefiore Hospital in Hove. For further information or to contact her please call the hospital on 01273 828120 or visit www.themontefiorehospital.co.uk