Endometriosis is a disorder of the reproductive system where endometrial tissue is found on the outside of the uterus. It's estimated that 3-5 million women in reproductive age suffer from endometriosis. Endometriosis is common in women ages 30-40 but sometimes starts in the late teens or 20's. Endometriosis is best diagnosed with laproscopic surgery.
I have had two laproscopic surgeries to determine the severity of my endometriosis. You can expect to be out of work for a couple of days and to be very uncomfortable for the first two or three days. The pain level is completely different for everyone.
Some of the symptoms of endometriosis is painful intercourse, severe cramps during your period, heavy bleeding or unusual spotting. Every woman is different and have different symptoms.
Leutal Phase Defect happens when progesterone being produced by the ovary is low or because the endometrium isn't responding to the normal stimulation by Progesterone. Leutal Phase Defect is diagnosed by performing an endometrial biopsy after day 21 of the cycle.
I have had a endometrial biopsy and it's not a lot of fun. You can expect the procedure to be painful and uncomfortable, but it's nothing some ibuprofin or other over the counter pain relief can't take care of.
Leutal phase defect does not have any concrete or significant symptoms. It is normally dected in a biopsy.
Multiple Miscarriage is defined as two or more consecutive miscarriages. Of most pregnancies 15-20% end in miscarriage and 75% of them occur in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. There are several tests that can be done to determine the cause of the miscarriage. These tests include hormonal factors, structural factors, uterine lining tests, chromosomal causes, and immunologic causes.
One of the most important things about multiple miscarriages is to find a support system that works for you. It is a devestating time and you should not go through this alone.
Ovulatory Disorders are most commonly related to thryoid issues. Most women who suffer from hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism also deal with ovulatory issues. Ovulatory disorders are diagnosed by symptoms and confirmed with bloodwork.
The treatment for this depends on the diagnosis as well as the indivitual. Most RE's require certain thyroid leves before pursuing treatment. Thyroid issues can play a major havoc on your hormone levels so they should be monitored regularly.
Symptoms of ovulatory disorders can be lethargy, mild weight gain, cold intolerance, constipation, dry skin, nervousness, emotional changes, or neck tenderness.
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is commonly known as PCOS. PCOS is a common hormone imbalance and is the leading cause of infertilitiy in women as well as one of the most underdiagnosed. PCOS can only be diagnosed through assessing hormone levels, primarily LH (luteinizing hormone), FSH (follicle stimulating hormone), testosterone, DHEAS (dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate), and insulin.
When I was diagnosed with PCOS my RE immediately sent me to a nutritionist who helped me understand how my body works with this disease and how I needed to change my diet. Most doctors treat PCOS with medication to control insulin levels.
Symptoms of PCOS include irregular or absent periods, lack of ovulation, weight gain, acne, excessive facial hair and infertility. Even more serious, Women with PCOS may be at higher risk for developing cardiovascular disease, Type 2 Diabetes, and endometrial cancer, especially if PCOS is left untreated
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
These are just a few diseases and causes of infertility. On my next post I will explore some others: premature ovarian failure, male factor, uterine factors, poor responder, as well as secondary infertility.
Have you experienced one of the above disorders? If so, what have you done to combat them??
