Lạc nội mạc tử cung (endometriosis) What causes endometriosis? 1. Retrograde Menstruation Theory (promoted by Dr. John Sampson in the 1920's). He surmised that menstrual tissue flows backwards through the fallopian tubes and deposits on the pelvic organs where it seeds and grows. 2. Some doctors have concluded that an immune system dysfunction or hormonal problem may be a trigger. 3. The Genetic Theory suggests that women may have a genetic predisposition to developing endometriosis. 4. Other theories assert that endometrial fragments travel through the bloodstream or the lymphatic system to other parts of the body. This may explain how endometriosis ends up in the lung, brain, skin, or eye. 5. Research conducted by Dr. Sherry Rier and sponsored by the Endometriosis Association shows a link between dioxin exposure and the development of endometriosis. What are some of the warning signs which may indicate endometriosis? First, you have to understand that endometriosis is a very sneaky and elusive disease. It refuses to live by any rules, so it can manifest itself in a variety of ways. Because the location of the lesions have a great deal to do with the symptoms, each woman's symptoms will vary. In general, though, some of the hallmark symptoms of endometriosis include pelvic pain, pain before and/or after menstruation, severe menstrual cramps (the kind that require more than a few aspirin), painful intercourse, painful orgasms, heavy or irregular menstrual bleeding, painful bowel movements (often involving cycles of diarrhea and constipation), infertility, intestinal distress (bloating, vomiting, nausea), lower back pain which may radiate down the legs, bladder pain and/or frequency, and fatigue. However, some women with endometriosis don't have any symptoms and may not know they have endometriosis until a problem, such as infertility, is discovered. Interestingly, the extent of endometriosis has no correlation to the amount of pain a woman will experience. How is diagnosis of endometriosis made? Currently, the only way to definitively diagnose endometriosis is through laparoscopy(surgery in which a lighted scope is inserted into small incisions in the abdomen). Because visual diagnosis can be tricky, suspected endometriosis is often removed and sent to pathology for histological confirmation. Physicians who treat endometriosis frequently may be able to feel endometriosis nodules during a pelvic exam and make a preliminary diagnosis based on their findings and a woman's history of symptoms. However, laparoscopy plus biopsy will show conclusive evidence of the disease as well as its extent; and often, treatment can be done at the same time. . Lạc nội mạc tử cung (endometriosis) What causes endometriosis? 1. Retrograde Menstruation Theory