Infertility is a main complication of endometriosis but does the disease increase the risk of miscarriage? What is a miscarriage? A miscarriage is the sudden loss of pregnancy before 20 weeks of gestation, usually in the first 13 weeks. Miscarriage can occur due to genetic abnormalities, hormonal imbalance, infection, drug abuse, obesity, and uterine conditions such as endometriosis, structural anomalies, or a weak cervix. The loss of two or more pregnancies is termed recurrent pregnancy loss. Is miscarriage common among women with endometriosis? Research has shown that patients with endometri ..read more

Endometriosis is best treated with laparoscopic deep excision surgery. This technique, though the gold standard, has some post-operative effects such as shoulder pain, light bleeding, and temporary bowel regime changes that patients should be aware of. Read this article to find out more about constipation after endometriosis surgery. What is constipation? Constipation refers to difficulty in passing stools or passing fewer than three stools a week. Constipation is a general problem that can occur due to a lack of fiber or fluids in your diet, but it may also be indicative of other diseases su ..read more

Frozen pelvis is a condition where organs of the pelvis stick to each other causing anatomical distortions in the pelvic organs. Here are five things you need to know about this condition. Frozen pelvis is the most advanced stage of endometriosis Frozen pelvis is an advanced form of deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE). In frozen pelvis, the deep infiltrating lesions become fibrotic and replace the soft tissues. A subsequent immune response against this results in scarring and the formation of adhesions. This causes the organs in the organs in the pelvic cavity to become immobile and distort ..read more

March is Endometriosis Awareness Month. Each year the Endometriosis Foundation of America hosts a weekend-long conference geared towards patients. The goal of this conference is to provide a comprehensive learning experience for individuals who are looking for more information about, living with, or have a loved one with endometriosis. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Y_-Oo0rZ5A This year marks the 15th Anniversary of both the Foundation and this conference. We have made great strides forward in the recognition and treatment of this disease, but we know that much work still needs to be done ..read more

Hysteroscopy is a technique that can help examine the inside of the uterus or the cervix. During a hysteroscopy, a small scope with a camera enters into the uterus through the natural opening of the uterus, the cervix. Visually examining the inside of the uterus allows for better evaluation of reasons for abnormal uterine bleeding or issues with fertility. Here are some FAQs about this procedure. When is a hysteroscopy recommended? Your healthcare provider may recommend a hysteroscopy for the following: Evaluating uterine anomalies Investigating the cause of abnormal uterine bleeding (fibroi ..read more

Laparoscopic deep excision surgery is the gold standard for diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis. Dr. Seckin’s patented Aqua Blue Contrast technique makes the approach even more accurate and sensitive. Here are some FAQs about the technique. What is Aqua Blue Contrast? Dr. Seckin and colleagues developed the technique to help clearly visualize all endometriosis lesions and differentiate them from the rest of the tissue.   The peritoneum lights up like the night sky when we apply the dyes," Dr. Seckin says. "We can then excise each lesion in turn. https://vimeo.com/347326417 Seckin A ..read more

Voiding dysfunction refers to conditions in which the bladder does not function as the brain instructs and may occur following endometriosis surgery. What are the types of voiding dysfunction? There can be different types types of voiding dysfunction. Overactive bladder (OAB) OAB causes urinary incontinence and a need to urinate even when the bladder is not full. Dysfunctional voiding In this case, the bladder never fully empties. This leads to a sensation of urgency due to muscles controlling the flow of urine not relaxing completely. Underactive bladder This is a reduced frequency of urinat ..read more

Big data, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning (ML) are buzzwords that have found applications in most spheres of life. AI brings the promise of more efficient work and a synthesis of diverse data points to offer new insights. These developments are now also making their way to endometriosis diagnosis and treatment. Here is the first of our series on AI and how it can be relevant for endometriosis. What is AI? AI helps computers perform functions normally associated with human intelligence. These include visualization, language translation and transcription, and data analysis.&n ..read more

One of the cardinal symptoms of endometriosis is painful sex. Yet, this is one of the least discussed topics between doctors and their patients. Endometriosis can cause different kinds of pain during sex Endometriosis can cause different kinds of pain during sex. For example, it can lead to pain during entry, pain with deep contact, and pain exacerbation with different positions. Questions your doctor should ask It can be difficult to discuss sex with your doctor. So it is important that they ask the right questions. I don't ask "Do you have painful sex", says Dr. Seckin, instead, I ask "Do ..read more

Even though parasitic diseases can mimic some of the symptoms of endometriosis, there is no direct link between parasites and endometriosis. "Suggesting that endometriosis is caused by parasites is another way of demeaning women," Dr. Seckin says. "Parasites may cause some symptoms but not painful periods". Parasites and endometriosis: overlapping symptoms Symptoms of endometriosis may overlap with those of other diseases of the abdomen or gastrointestinal tract. However, this does not mean that parasites cause endometriosis. For instance, peritoneal enterobiasis, caused by the human pinwor ..read more