Endometriosis is a condition in which the tissue lining the inside of the uterus, known as the endometrium, develops in other parts of the body besides the uterus. One of the most affected places is the intestine and, in these cases, the woman may have blood in her stool.
In fact, endometrial tissue in the intestine makes it difficult to evacuate stool, eventually causing intestinal wall irritation and bleeding; however, the presence of blood in the stool can also be caused by other problems such as hemorrhoids, cracks or even colitis. For example, see other common causes of blood in your stool.
- Therefore.
- Endometriosis is usually suspected only when the woman already has a history of the disease elsewhere or when other symptoms appear.
- Such as:.
In many cases, a woman has only one or two of these symptoms, but it is also common for all symptoms to appear for several months, making diagnosis difficult.
However, if endometriosis is suspected, it is important to consult a gastroenterologist to identify if there are any changes and start appropriate treatment.
To confirm the presence of endometriosis, your doctor may order tests such as a colonoscopy or even a transvaginal ultrasound; If the diagnosis is made, your doctor may also order a laparoscopy to find out the severity of endometriosis and which organs are affected. Learn more about endometriosis tests.
If endometriosis is not confirmed, your doctor may order more tests to identify what causes stool bleeding.
Treatment of endometriosis may vary depending on the sites affected, however, it almost always starts with the use of hormonal remedies, such as contraceptives or antihormonal remedies, such as Zoladex, to control the growth of endometrial tissue.
However, when symptoms are very severe or when the woman wants to become pregnant and therefore does not want to use hormone drugs, surgery may also be raised, in which the doctor removes excess endometrial tissue from the affected organs. endometriosis, some organs, such as the ovaries, may need to be completely removed.
To better understand how endometriosis is treated and what options are available.