Endometriosis is probably the most confusing term (and frustrating conditions) I’ve heard till date (I still can’t get the spelling right). I was told (multiple times) that I have it and I apparently had a chocolate cyst (ok I had too many chocolates) that was removed with the help of laparoscopy but it recurred after a year or so. Now what is not clear and most ironic of all things is the fact that endometriosis is deterrent to pregnancy and the only cure to the condition or disease is pregnancy. I have not heard, from any of the docs or should I say infertility specialists, a clear answer as to why it happens and how it can impact pregnancy. When it won’t let you get pregnant, then how can you cure it?
As far as I understood, it is a condition where the menstrual
blood flows back in (and lands wherever it likes). The strange thing (in my
case) is that it flowed to the same ovary again after being removed once where
it formed the chocolate cyst (really? Does endometriosis have favorite spots?).
It also impacts the egg quality and quantity, I heard.
Again the other strange thing was that I experienced none of
the symptoms of this condition, which includes extremely painful periods (lower
abdomen cramps or fullness, abnormal or irregular mensuration or the likes). I had
only one symptom and that was infertility. But that could also be cause of PCOD (which I was told by some docs that I had and by some others that I don’t).
I suffered from an information overload for years. I have undergone
probably 100 transvaginal ultrasounds (if not more) and doctors have given
different verdicts trying to attribute my infertility to some of the most common
causes available. I used to research terms from my ultrasound report and then
after the doctor visit and the diagnosis, research again. And when researching,
you will also read about Padma Lakshmi, who in spite of having endometriosis
got pregnant.
When I look back now, I feel the doctors are as clueless.
On Women’s Day as I write this, I wish you have access to complete,
accurate and right information about the condition that you may have. Power,
knowledge and emancipation. It will be all good (endometriosis or no endometriosis) in
the end, trust me.
