Endometriosis is when the uterus lining grows in other parts of the body like the ovaries or the pelvic area. It primarily affects women of the reproductive age and has numerous effects like infertility. Silent endometriosis is when a woman doesn’t show any signs or symptoms of the condition. This causes it to go undiagnosed for an extended period before identifying and testing.
What Is Silent Endometriosis?
Endometriosis presents itself through heavy bleeding, painful menses or bowel movement, or infertility. There are numerous variances in the symptoms of women with this disease. Some will have no symptoms, which makes it more challenging to diagnose early.
Silent endometriosis, or asymptomatic endometriosis, has no visible signs of the disease. The slow progress without any indication can sometimes call for surgical treatment methods when diagnosed. Some women don’t identify this disease until they look into the causes of other medical conditions like infertility or when getting scans for different reasons.
It is a painful disease where the endometrial tissue embeds on other organs forming a scar. There are few theories on the causes of endometriosis, including genetics, backward flow of menstrual debris, or an autoimmune condition.
How and When Is Endometriosis Tested?
People cannot quickly identify silent endometriosis. People only learn about it during other tests or diagnoses. Once the doctor informs them, they may ask the patient to go in for further tests to check on the extent of the disease and the organs affected.
Consider the budget and the type of results to expect when choosing the tests. Most will require a scan to analyze the condition. The doctor can physically examine the pelvic because the endometrium mainly affects the pelvis and ovaries.
Imaging testing is also a common requirement, as it will eliminate doubts and give the doctor a clear picture of the effects. The doctor can then analyze and recommend the best treatment plan. Some people prefer using an MRI or ultrasound for this process, while others prefer having a transvaginal ultrasound for their image testing.
To confirm the extent of the condition, the doctor can request a laparoscopy. It is a slightly invasive procedure that uses a laparoscope to examine the reproductive organs in real-time. It comes with a risk of perforation, but it helps the doctor understand how far along the disease is.
There is no set time that one can go for these tests. Doctors recommend getting one as soon as they notice any endometriosis symptoms. Silent endometriosis doesn’t allow one of these privileges. Since no signs show until other examinations, the doctor will need to analyze their findings further. They will order additional tests to rule out other similar issues.
What Are the Treatment Options for Endometriosis?
Silent endometriosis treatment plans include surgical or medicinal options. It will depend on the extent of the disease. Doctors will exercise the surgical option when they discover extensive damage to the embedded organs. They may use laser or thermal methods to minimize the invasiveness.
Hormonal drugs like GnRH analogues help in managing and treating endometriosis. There have been effective results when using these medicines and other pain-relieving medications. Advancements in technology continue to improve the quality and effectiveness of endometriosis treatment.
What Are the Effects of Endometriosis?
Endometriosis can cause infertility or inflammatory bowel disease. When the uterine wall embeds itself in other organs like the ovary or the fallopian tubes, tubal blockage or damage can cause sub-fertility or infertility. Usually, doctors can find a solution to the issue if captured early.
One symptom of endometriosis is painful bowel movements. It may further affect the bowels or the pelvis to cause some complications.
Some people attribute endometriosis to breast or other like ovarian cancer. Some people also have other complications like adhesion formation after endometriosis surgery.
Myths and Facts About Endometriosis
Endometriosis can sometimes result in infertility. It’s possible to get through the treatment process, including medical and surgical procedures. It is a common misconception that fertility with endometriosis is permanent. Medical advancements allow women to treat infertility or sub-fertility issues.
There is no assurance of the complete success of the treatment. Some women may experience recurrence of the disease after they complete their treatment. Pairing the chosen treatment with some lifestyle and diet changes can improve the chances of treatment.
The Verdict of Silent Endometriosis Testing
There are many unknowns in silent endometriosis. With improved medical testing and treatment plans, the field is slowly shifting. The doctors have numerous field testing techniques that allow them to test and confirm the extent of the disease. Women in the reproductive phase should undergo testing as soon as they get a diagnosis, even if they don’t have any symptoms.
