The parts of the body affected by endometriosis are very wide ranging, with doctors discovering the condition present in many areas. Endometriosis is a medical condition that is characterized by the development of uterine cells in areas external to the uterine cavity like ovaries. Normally the endometrial cells are located internally on the uterine wall.
These endometrial cells anatomically get implanted outside the uterus due to hormonal variations. The main cause of endometriosis is unknown. Some theories suggest that retrograde menstruation causes endometriosis as the cells that are released during menstruation migrate back towards the fallopian tubes, pelvis, and abdomen finally progressing to these structures. Abnormalities of the immune system are known to be another cause for the development of endometriosis.
The endometrial tissue may develop on the abdominal lining or on the surface of other organs. It can gradually progress to the underlying deeper structures and form ovarian cysts. The endometriosis affected women develop endometrial cells in other body parts other than uterus like fallopian tube, ovaries, rectum and bladder. Rarely, endometriosis can develop in the vagina, ureters, linings of small and large intestines, thighs, lungs including the lining of the chest cavity. Endometriosis also develops in the pelvis, bladder, behind the uterus, uterotsacral ligaments, rectovaginal pouches and the navel.
Endometriosis can affect any body structure in women. It commonly develops in the pelvic cavity on or below the ovaries, backside of the uterus, uterine tissues, and on the bladder or bowel. Rarely, it develops on the lungs or other body parts. This article provides an insight about the body parts that are affected by the endometriosis.
Parts of the Body Affected By Endometriosis
1. The pelvic wall
The pelvic walls are commonly affected by the endometriosis. It can affect any pelvic wall including the wall surrounding the ovaries and behind the uterus. Patients presenting with the endometriosis of the pelvic wall develop severe pelvic pain, painful intercourse and heavy menstrual flow. Endometriosis on the backside of the pelvic walls can advance to the deeper structures including the vagina and rectum. It also affects the bowel. Endometriosis on the front pelvic wall extends deeper and affects the bladder resulting in female infertility.
2. Female reproductive tract
Endometriosis affects the pelvic parts on the outer surface of fallopian tubes, Uterus and ovaries. Endometriosis affects both the ovaries resulting in the development of a blood filled cyst in the ovary. The cyst causes severe pelvic pain, painful intercourse, heavy and painful periods. Endometriosis affects the fallopian tubes resulting in the formation of fibrous tissue adhesions or scar between different abdominal organs. These fibrous adhesions block the fallopian tubes resulting in infertility.
Endometriosis affects the structures of the large bowel that are situated behind the pelvis like sigmoid colon and rectum. It progresses to the anus resulting in the anal bleeding during menstrual cycle, constipation, and painful defecation. In long term cases, it eventually causes obstruction of the bowel.
4. Urinary tract
Endometriosis affects the urinary bladder, and ureters. It obstructs the urinary tract resulting in urinary bleeding during periods, painful urination and infection of the urinary tract. In advanced cases, endometriosis can cause blockage of the ureters resulting in kidney failure.
5. Other tissues of the body
Endometriosis can affect any tissue in the body. Rarely, it affects the navel, liver, brain, lungs from previous surgeries causing internal bleeding.
Sadly, there are few parts of the body which are completely immune from the effects of this disease, with so many parts of the body affected by endometriosis. However, although there is no medical cure, there are many endometriosis natural treatments which are extremely effective at keeping the condition in check and treat endometriosis pain.