Period questions?

Question

My question is regarding my period. I am 19 and have been having it for a while now. However, lately it has been getting horrible. I have tried birth control pills only to make me feel sick alot. I have been getting nauseous and migranes around the time I start and the first 2 to 3 days of my period I am stuck in bed with the heating pad and a couple darvacets and pepto. I have been looking up on the internet about endometricitys. Unsure how to spell. Does anyone know much about this? Could this be from this. I also have a lot of problems during sex latelty pain and such,and I am not new at it. Also, very gross but I loked up the amount of blood loss supposed to be lost and mine is WAY more than that. I have been to a doctor, and the only thing he seems to offer is Birth control, which i hated being sick in between my periods too. Does anyone else have any of these problems, anything that helps?

I also did go to the ER a few months back about this... and they DID find a cyst on my ovary, only to be told that this is normal and would probably just go away, that it was normal with growing teenagers. However, I am 19... almost not a teenager. And, I have never heard of this?

Answer 1

It is estimated that endometriosis affects between 10 and 15 percent of all women of reproductive age. It occurs when tissue similar to the tissue that lines the uterus (endometrium) grows in other areas of a woman's body. Although it is abnormal for endometrial tissue to grow outside of the uterus, endometriosis is not a form of cancer.

Endometriosis can occur at any time after puberty. It is most commonly diagnosed in a woman's twenties or early thirties although it can develop at any stage during a woman's reproductive years. A woman can even experience endometriosis after menopause, although this is less common.

Although it is possible to have endometriosis without symptoms, the condition often causes painful periods and other pain symptoms. Endometriosis may be associated with chronic pelvic pain and the inability to get pregnant.

Symptoms of endometriosis include:

painful periods
painful sex
painful bowel movements
irritability
depression
fatigue
heavy or irregular bleeding
nausea/dizziness
diarrhea/constipation

The cause of endometriosis is not known. There are however several theories. The leading theory, at present, links endometriosis to a problem with the immune system. A weakness in the immune system may allow endometrial tissue to take root and grow outside the uterus in women with endometriosis.

Endometriosis is treated in several ways. Because each woman is different, treatment often takes an individualized approach. Treatment may involve different combinations of medication, surgery, alternative approaches and/or lifestyle changes depending on what the treating healthcare professional recommends. There are different medications that are being used. One of the most effective ways to treat endometriosis is through a surgical procedure called operative laparoscopy. This surgery is most effective in removing all the endometrial tissue when performed by a skilled surgeon with expertise in endometriosis surgery.
The name endometriosis comes from the word endometrium. The endometrium is the tissue that lines the inside of the uterus. This tissue builds up every month and sheds during a woman's menstrual period.

Sometimes tissue that is like endometrial tissue shows up outside of the uterus in other places in the body and starts to grow. This is endometriosis. Clumps of endometrial tissue growing outside the uterus may be called nodules, lesions, implants, or growths. Growth of endometrial tissue may also cause scarring.
The most common locations for endometrial growth are in the:

cul-de-sac, or pouch between the uterus and rectum
uterosacral ligaments, or ligaments that attach the uterus and cervix to the base of the spine
ovaries (egg producing glands
the surface of the uterus
bowel
rectum
bladder
peritoneum (lining of the abdominal cavity)
Endometriosis is a fairly common disorder that affects women during their reproductive years. Between 10 and 20 percent of women in North America are believed to be affected by endometriosis. It can develop anytime from a girl's first period until she reaches menopause. However, most women experience symptoms during the middle of their reproductive years, in their mid 20s to early 30s.

The Impact of Endometriosis
People often say that endometriosis is a puzzle. It is puzzling because it is unpredictable. No one really knows for sure what causes it, how it is cured, and why some women suffer from it and others don't. It is a chronic illness, which means that once it starts, it usually won't stop on its own. Most of the time, when a woman reaches menopause, the endometriosis will go away, though this is not always the case. Even having a total abdominal hysterectomy with both ovaries removed may not cure endometriosis in a small number of women.

Severity
Unlike normal endometrium that leaves the body during a woman's period, endometriosis has no way to leave the body. This may result in internal bleeding, inflammation of the surrounding areas, and scar tissue.

In some cases, patches of endometriosis might not ever spread or grow, while in other cases, endometriosis may spread throughout the entire pelvic region. Endometriosis may affect a woman's ability to get pregnant. Most women experience pain, as well as other symptoms. Generally, women can function on a daily basis. But sometimes, the pain can be so severe the woman needs to miss work or school. Women do not die from endometriosis. However, there have been some rare, reported cases where women are incapacitated from the pain.

Endometrial growths are not cancerous. However, based on a survey by the Endometriosis Association, there is an observation that women with endometriosis have an increased risk of developing certain cancers like melanoma, non-Hodgkins lymphoma, breast cancer, or ovarian cancer. This risk is small. As well, patients with fibroids have a slightly higher chance of developing endometriosis.

good luck

Answer 2

Yes, I had it and I can't spell it either. My periods got really heavy and cramps that were horrible. I was 31 at the time and had two kids already with no plans for more. Dr. gave me about 5 options and I opted for a hysterectomy - which was the best thing I ever did - periods all gone.......poof be gone :)
But there are other alternatives and it sounds like you're experiencing the same stuff.

Answer 3

My sister has the same problem so I would not worry about it,it's not life threatening. But she did get these really strong pain killers from the Gino that helped her a lot. My mom also has very heavy flows but the Doc said it was normal.She said it just depends on how active you are.About the sex thing I'm not sure about that.
Also you might want to change doctors if he is not helping you the way you think he should.

Answer 4

Birth control shouldn't make you sick, try switching kinds. Don't know much about Endometriosis, but it is a possibility, ask a doctor. I used to habe really bad period pain, but birth control handled that right away, no cramps at all now....

Answer 5

Did you talk to your doc about the Depo-Provera shot form of birth control? I did that for 2 years and it was AWESOME!!! I had NOOOOOO period whatsoever - just go to get a shot every 3 months. I too used to really 'suffer' every month - after I gave birth I have had almost nothing every month.

Answer 6

Most girls are irregular for the first fews years after starting there period, it's different for everyone. It's totally normal. Hope this helps x

Answer 7

Get a second opinion from a doctor because this one doesn't seem to understand your situation very well. Or tell him that you are already on birth control and it is making you sick. Mention that your blood loss is way more. Make sure to mention that the birth control has not helped.

Answer 8

My mom suffered from endometriosis for years and it almost ended up killing her. She lost so much blood during her period that she has a severe loss of iron in her system. If the doctor you are currently seeing is not taking you or your concerns seriously, please switch doctors!

Best of luck to you!

Answer 9

You should try some natural vitamins it could help I heard amazing stories from people who tried Shaklee vitamins, they help for all different kinds of problems and they're 100% natural (not like other vitamins that could contain things like color yellow etc...)they test each vitamin hundreds of times before they actually make and sell it. You have to find out who sells these b/c they don't sell the in stores people sell them privately find out who sells them and ask them which vitamins they recommend.
or go to Shaklee.com I heard from someone that took shaklee vitamins and doesn't have cramps anymore,it also made her have less blood loss and less bleeding days.....

Answer 10

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