Source: sheknows.com<\/p>\n
An estimated\u00a011 percent of women\u00a0between the ages of 15 and 44 are affected by\u00a0endometriosis, a painful disorder in which tissue that normally lines the uterus grows outside the uterus. \u201cThe tissue often travels backwards from inside the uterus, through the fallopian tubes, into the pelvis and becomes trapped in the pelvic cavity,\u201d\u00a0Dr. Edward Tangchitnob, an OB-GYN with\u00a0Emanate Health\u00a0in Southern California, tells SheKnows. \u201c[This can] lead to scarring, inflammation, and cysts.\u201d<\/p>\n
Although the illness is different for everyone,\u00a0some of the most common symptoms\u00a0are painful periods and bleeding between periods. There are four stages of\u00a0endometriosis, with stage one being \u201cminimal\u201d and stage four being \u201csevere.\u201d<\/p>\n
To help understand the differences between the four stages of endometriosis, we spoke with women\u2019s health experts about how the symptoms vary and how the different stages affect the women diagnosed.<\/p>\n
Stage One<\/p>\n
Based on surgical findings as set forth by the\u00a0ASRM\u00a0(American Society for Reproductive Medicine), Dr. Rebecca Brightman, a private practice OB-GYN in New York and educational partner for\u00a0SpeakENDO,\u00a0explains that stage one is considered \u201cminimal disease.\u201d Women with stage one endometriosis have small implants and lesions, and minimal scarring or adhesions.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s important to note that women may feel severe pain and discomfort in this stage, along with stage two,\u201d says Dr. Tangchitnob.<\/p>\n
Dr. Brightman also emphasized that just because stage one is considered \u201cminimal,\u201d it certainly doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s painless. \u201cThe stage of disease or extent of disease does not always correlate with the degree of symptoms,\u201d she tells SheKnows, adding that women with stages one and two can be severely impacted by the symptoms of disease.<\/p>\n
Stage Two<\/p>\n
Dr. Brightman says stage two is also considered minimal \u201cwith implants collectively measuring less than 5 cm and confined to pelvic organs.\u201d In women with stage two endometriosis, adhesions are minimal if present.<\/p>\n
Doctors may find more implants deeper in your body compared to stage one, according to Dr. Tangchitnob.<\/p>\n
Stage Three<\/p>\n
Stage three is considered \u201cmoderate.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dr. Tangchitnob says doctors will likely find deep implants in this moderate stage, in addition to an endometrial cyst or two on at least one ovary. \u201cThese are called \u2018chocolate cysts\u2019 since they are filled with endometriosis fluid and blood,\u201d he explains. \u201cThese cysts are caused by endometrial tissue that attaches to the ovary, shedding blood and tissue.\u201d<\/p>\n
In women with stage three endometriosis, doctors may also find filmy adhesions, or bands of tissues, binding your organs together when they shouldn\u2019t be connected. \u201cMany think that this binding could cause the stabbing pain and nausea that many women cope with,\u201d Dr. Tangchitnob tells SheKnows.<\/p>\n
Stage Four<\/p>\n
Stage four endometriosis is considered severe. \u201cWomen [with stage four endometriosis] may have at least one large ovarian cyst, along with a large number of dense adhesions that we typically find throughout the pelvic region,\u201d says Dr. Tangchitnob. He notes that doctors also continue to find deep endometriosis implants in this stage and the pelvis often appears so scarred that the gynecologic organs are no longer mobile, possibly leading to issues with fertility and pain.<\/p>\n
The Bottom Line<\/p>\n
As Both Dr. Brightman and Dr. Tangchitnob emphasized, the stage of the illness doesn\u2019t directly correlate with the severity of the symptoms. Women with stage one endometriosis may experience extremely painful symptoms, so they should never be dismissed simply because their diagnosis is classified as \u201cminimal.\u201d<\/p>\n
While endometriosis causes excruciating and sometimes debilitating pain for certain patients, Dr. Brightman adds that many women with the illness are asymptomatic. \u201cThe diagnosis of endometriosis is sometimes made as an incidental finding at the time of surgery or evaluation for other medical problems,\u201d she notes.<\/p>\n
Although there isn\u2019t a direct correlation between stage and symptoms, Dr. Brightman explains that women with advanced stages of endometriosis may be more likely to experience severe pelvic pain, as well as urinary and gastrointestinal symptoms, during menstruation.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey may have irregular menstrual bleeding as well,\u201d she says. \u201cWhile the extent of disease doesn\u2019t always correlate with infertility, those women with advanced disease may be more likely to encounter problems with fertility.\u201d<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re experiencing symptoms associated with endometriosis, Dr. Brightman emphasizes the importance of being open with your doctor so you can work together on an individualized treatment plan that includes treatment options, goals, symptom management, and how to integrate treatment into your day-to-day life.<\/p>\n
\u201cWomen often experience endometriosis symptoms differently and everybody\u2019s needs are different. It may feel uncomfortable discussing these topics with your doctor, but it\u2019s important that you feel empowered to do so, especially since endometriosis can easily go undiagnosed,\u201d Dr. Brightman tells SheKnows, noting that it can take up to ten years to receive a proper diagnosis.<\/p>\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3949,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[389,273,1363,113],"class_list":["post-3948","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-endometriosis","tag-health","tag-painful-periods","tag-women"],"yoast_head":"\n