Risk factors for having endo

 

Something I’m asked a lot is does having Endometroisis put me at risk? And in todays blog post I want to talk about it. 

Although ovarian cancer occurs at higher rates in women with endometriosis, the overall lifetime risk is low to begin with. Some studies suggest that endometriosis increases that risk, but it's still relatively low.

Endometriosis can cause uterine tissue to grow in the intestines in anywhere from 3 to 37 percent of womenTrusted Source with the condition.

In rare cases, the tissue can cause bleeding and scarring that leads to intestinal obstruction(blockage of the intestine).

A small bowel obstruction can cause symptoms such as stomach pain, nausea, and problems passing gas or stool.

If left untreated, a bowel obstruction can cause pressure to build up, possibly resulting in a bowel perforation (a hole in the bowel). A blockage can also decrease blood supply to the intestines. Both can be fatal.

Ectopic pregnancy

An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg implants outside the uterus, usually in the fallopian tube. This can cause the fallopian tube to rupture, which can lead to internal bleeding.

According to an analysis of 15 studiesTrusted Source, women with endometriosis are more likely to experience an ectopic pregnancy.

Symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy include vaginal bleeding that’s abnormal, mild cramping occurring on one side of the pelvis, and low back pain.

MEDICAL EMERGENCY

If you have endometriosis and experience symptoms of either bowel obstruction or ectopic pregnancy, seek immediate medical treatment.

Having endometriosis doesn’t mean you’ll get tissue growing in either your bowel or fallopian tubes. The potential endometriosis complications discussed above are rare and also highly treatable. You can also be at higher risk for infertility issues. 

If you have Endometriosis on your lung which is rare but does happen (in my experience anyway) then it can cause your lung to collapse 

Recent studies suggest that women with endometriosis have increased risks of abnormal cholesterol levels and heart disease. These are highest in women who are younger than 40.[2]Some of these risks increase after hysterectomy and removal of both ovaries for endometriosis treatment.

It is important to have regular health checks with your healthcare provider.

Although there are a lot of scary risks rest assured they are very rare and are almost always preventable and treatable