Painful sexual intercourse could be a sign of endometriosis

MANILA, Philippines - A lot of men were quite offended by a recently posted Excel spreadsheet that went viral.  The sheet detailed reasons why some women refuse to have sex.  A lot of men are probably contemplating putting together lists of their own. But if women complain about pelvic pain or dread the painful intercourse, it is something that men and more importantly women should take seriously, not personally.

According to experts, painful sexual intercourse (dyspareunia), chronic pelvic pain and dysmenorrhea are the common symptoms of endometriosis. It is estimated that endometriosis affects 10 percent of reproductive-aged women.

“Endometriosis is a medical condition wherein the tissue that lines the womb or the endometrium grows outside the uterus, often anywhere in the pelvic area or the lower abdomen,” explains Dr. Delfin A. Tan, head of the Section of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, St. Luke’s Medical Center in QC.

During the menstrual cycle, hormones produced cause the lining of a woman’s uterus to build up with tissue and blood vessels. If a woman does not get pregnant, the uterus sheds this tissue and blood. It comes out of the body through the vagina as her menstrual period. The endometrial tissue that grows outside the uterus also responds to the menstrual period, also shedding tissue and blood; however, in this case it does not exit the vagina but instead is shed into the body causing inflammation, scar tissue and pain.

Endometriosis impairs the quality of life of women. It interferes with women’s careers and social life. Because of the pain associated with endometriosis, this can also get in the way of the woman’s relationship with her partner and family. Worse, it can also cause infertility.

Endometriosis is not only debilitating but also costly. In the United States, the annual cost of endometriosis from the treatment to the monetary lost is estimated at US$1.8 billion.

While the exact cause of the disease remains unknown, there are several treatment options available for women. Dr. Tan explained that there should be a multidisciplinary approach involving a combination of lifestyle modifications and medications. Allied health services should be used to limit the impact of this condition on activities of daily living and fertility.

In some cases surgery is required to confirm the diagnosis and provide therapy to achieve the desired goal of pain relief or improved fertility. But for less invasive treatment options, there is a new evidence based treatment for endometriosis such as low-dosed progestin like Dienogest that has been shown to be as effective GnRH-agonist, with favorable safety and tolerability profile, allowing for long term use.

If you experience any of these symptoms, talk to your doctor if you want to know more about endometriosis and the available treatment options.