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{In no situation do we ever recommend that fertility diagnosis or treatment be undertaken without the oversight of a qualified medical practitioner. Please use the enclosed information as quick reference and for discussion aids with your practitioner.}

One survey of 4,000 women with endo determined, among other facts, that the average length of time to diagnosis is 9.28 years, allowing for a delay in the patient seeking help from a physician for an average 4.67 years. For many of the women, their delay in seeking help was explained as due to the fact that they were under 25 years old when symptoms began. It is the hope of this and many other websites that the information here will be shared with more women, in an effort to prevent more heartbreak stemming from this progressive illness.

Briefly, endometriosis is the result of endometrial tissue (the same tissue which creates the uterine lining) inappropriately present in locations other than the uterus' interior. This misplaced tissue will still respond to a woman's monthly hormonal cycle, causing pain and discomfort. It is important for women to know, however, that some cases of even severe endo may not cause pain, while some lesser cases of endo may be extremely distressing. Therefore, accurate diagnosis is important regardless of pain severity. Left untreated, the effects of this disease can be physically and psychologically traumatic.

The link from endo to infertility is strong -- 30% to 40% of women with endo may have problems conceiving. Endo-related causes of conception difficulty may include organ damage, low levels of a molecule specific to enhancing implantation, increased presence of peritoneal white blood cells, and dysfuntional immune system.

In addition to fertility problems, women living with endo also often experience lifestyle disruption because:

• "many symptoms that can be disguised as other illnesses such as chronic menstrual and ovulation cramping, bowel problems, painful sexual intercourse, lower back pain, nausea, headaches, fluid retention;
• less resistance to immune disorders such as glandular fever, influenza, hayfever, and asthma;
• side effects from short-term and long-term medications;
• reactions to hormone treatments;
• repeated minor and major surgeries"
  (Thanks to the Endometriosis Awareness Website)

Once diagnosed, treatment for endometriosis will depend on the severity of damage already done, and may include a combination of drugs and procedures, including:

• Birth Control Pills which work by directing the body's hormones to experience a pseudopregnancy state;
• Progestin which may be taken orally or by injection, which work by keeping estrogen and progesterone levels low;
• GnRH Agonists which usually causes a temporary, chemical menopause;
• Danazol which works in several ways to affect the binding of sex hormones and encourage an increase in free androgens;
• Pain Medications such as NSAIDS (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), acetaminophen, and prescription-strength drugs;
• Laparoscopic or Laparotic Surgery which is used for both diagnosis and treatment.
• Alternative and Complementary treatments such traditional Chinese medicine, nutritional therapy, homeopathy, and more

"Pregnancy rates following surgery generally range between 35 to 40% for severe endometriosis to between 55 and 65% with milder disease," according to Dr. Mark Perloe of Georgia Reproductive Specialists.

Is there a way to prevent endometriosis? At this time, the answer is "maybe."

Research is being conducted to determine precursors of endo but, for now, what is known is that there are three potential sources that could make a woman more susceptible to endo: Genetics, or familial link; Immunological disorders; and Dioxin, or organochlorine exposure.

What can be done is to educate yourself, your family, and your friends about this oft-misdiagnosed illness which can negatively affect lives in so many ways.