March 11, 2013 – Oregon Reproductive Medicine (ORM), the leading fertility clinic that is globally recognized and one of the most successful providers of IVF and other advanced fertility treatments in the United States, announced today their support for March being Endometriosis Awareness Month. Endometriosis, often diagnosed in women with painful menstruation, is a common cause of infertility, with up to 40% of affected patients having trouble trying to conceive. Often endometriosis sufferers have little or no symptoms of pain, but instead are diagnosed because they cannot become pregnant or have a pelvic mass that is discovered on exam or ultrasound. ORM provides many treatment options for those with endometriosis looking to start a family.
“Endometriosis is a common diagnosis for women who struggle with infertility and the more we can get the word out there and diagnose woman the better the chances we have of helping them start a family when they are ready,” explains Dr. John Hesla, MD, at Oregon Reproductive Medicine.
Endometriosis is one of the top three causes of female infertility and is one of the most common gynecological diseases, affecting 5.5 million women in America. It is usually a painful disorder where tissue that normally lines the uterus grows outside of the uterus. The displaced tissue continues to respond to ovarian hormones and will thicken, break down and bleed during a normal menstrual cycle. This causes an inflammatory response in the pelvis which may lead localized scarring. Patients often develop moderate to severe pain with their periods, pain with intercourse, or pain at any time of the cycle. The pain may worsen over time.
Endometriosis is often undetected until a woman has difficulty getting pregnant. There is no cure, but early detection can reduce symptoms and help women from developing some of the more debilitating complications associated with it. Endometriosis appears to be somewhat more common in daughters of women who had endometriosis, suggesting a genetic link. Its symptoms include pain during menstruation, intercourse, bowel movements, or urination. ORM specializes in helping patients with fertility disorders such as endometriosis and it assists women and couples who need simple or advanced treatments to achieve a healthy pregnancy.
