Share:
Painful women's disease Every year 40,000 new endometriosis patients
Endometriosis is considered among professionals to be one of the most common but also the most difficult to diagnose gynecological disorders. According to estimates, about one million women in Germany suffer from this chronic disease, in which the uterine lining proliferates morbidly. Each year, around 40,000 new cases are added.
Common cause of infertility
Among health experts, endometriosis is considered one of the most common but also the most difficult to diagnose gynecological diseases. In the painful chronic illness the uterine lining proliferates outside the uterine cavity. Endometriosis often remains unrecognized for years. It is estimated that about one million women in Germany suffer from it. Every year, there are 40,000 new cases in Germany. The disease is one of the most common causes of infertility. The University Hospital Münster (UKM) reports in a recent communication about the case of an affected woman.
Endometriosis is one of the most common but also the most difficult to diagnose gynecological disorders. The benign growths of the lining of the uterus outside the uterus are associated, among other things, with severe menstrual pain. (Image: pathdoc / fotolia.com)It takes an average of eight to twelve years to diagnose
Christel Fröse is looking forward to getting older. Since she was twelve, her life has been shaped by her illness. It suffers from endometriosis, ie benign growths of the endometrium outside the uterus.
The now 47-year-old was fainting as a teenager because of her inexplicably severe abdominal complaints regularly. "I left many tears until I finally got the diagnosis and knew where my pain came from," says Fröse.
According to the UKM, it takes an average of eight to twelve years for physicians to correctly interpret the often diffuse symptoms of their patients. Because the growths of the uterine tissue lead to adhesions and adhesions on many organs and even nerves.
Mainly the abdominal and pelvic area affected - in principle, however, the endometrium can grow anywhere in the body.
Strong menstrual pain
The typical symptoms of the disease include severe menstrual pain, chronic pelvic pain and pain during intercourse.
In addition, if endometriosis occurs in the bladder or bowel, it is more likely to have blood in the urine, blood in the stool, or urinary symptoms.
In many cases, painful cysts are also formed. Some women also experience nonspecific symptoms such as back pain, headache, dizziness and stomach problems.
Typical course of the underrated disease
In Christel Fröse, the endometriosis herds led to unbearable abdominal pain - for which she was laughed at for a long time. She was even placed in the "psychosomatic corner," she says.
"This is a typical course of this underrated disease," explains Dr. Sebastian Schäfer as a gynecologist at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology under the direction of Prof. Ludwig Kiesel.
"The women carry with them for years their pain as a supposed woman suffering with them. If left untreated, they can chronify. In such cases, even the interconnection of the nerves in the brain changes. Thus, the pain burns into the memory and that, although the cause - the Endometriose - has been removed frequently already operationally ", reminds Kiesel.
Positive experiences with alternative healing methods
"Endometriosis metastasizes like cancer," says Prof. Ludwig Kiesel. Although it is benign and often hormonal to treat, but in many cases ultimately only the operation, especially if the endometriosis prevents a desire for children.
Half of all affected women have difficulties getting offspring, according to the UKM.
In addition to conventional medical treatment methods, alternative treatment methods are also conceivable, especially after surgery.
The focus is on the goals of "reducing symptoms, reducing pain and physically or mentally restoring or strengthening the well-being of women," writes the Endometriosis Association Germany on its website.
According to the association, there are already positive experiences with acupuncture, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), homeopathy and herbal medicine (phytotherapy).
The disease can also be positively influenced by a sensible change in diet, the reduction of stress and moderate exercise.
Convert chronic pain positively
In spite of successful surgery, the pain in the many years in which the disease was left untreated has become chronic in Christel Fröse.
She finds it difficult to practice her current job and is considering working as a relaxation trainer in the future, especially with endometriosis patients.
At the moment she is doing an internship in the clinic of Prof. Kiesel to learn as much as possible about the handling of the disease.
"Fortunately, Ms Fröse has the ability to positively reuse the chronic pain," says Schäfer. He has just asked his patient because of her cheerful attitude to report in the near future to other doctors from her illnesses. (Ad)