The Endometriosis Hip Joint Pain Link

Although not one of the more commonly known symptoms of endometriosis, hip joint pain can be a real problem for some sufferers.

An estimated 5-10% of the female population lives with endometriosis, causing them great inconvenience and disruptions in their day to day lives. The fact that endometriosis effecting the hips and your ability to walk is not widely known means that many women don't make the connection between the two.

Although some women who have endometriosis may not feel its effects, the disease can manifest with various signs and symptoms - hip joint pain being one of them.

Hip joint pain can be associated with the other symptoms that accompany endometriosis, such as pain in the pelvic area, increased discomfort during menstruation, constipation, dysmenorrhea, diarrhea, pain while urinating, pain while having sex, fatigue, lower back pain and more.

Those with more serious occurrences of endometriosis may even become infertile. Because of these serious life-disrupting symptoms, endometriosis is considered to be a very serious matter in women's reproductive health.

Endometriosis occurs when cells similar to the endometrium, a thin tissue lining of the uterus, appear outside the uterus and attach themselves to neighboring organs in the abdomen, including hip tendons.

Inline with the endometrium in the uterus these cells grow and are shed each month. However, unlike the uterus, the menstrual blood and tissue has no escape, causing inflammation, scarring and over time adhesions form.

Adhesions are web-like structures made up of scar tissue that bind internal organs and ligaments together. These stretch and pull causing pain.

Hip joint pain caused by endometriosis is usually because endometrial tissues have attached themselves to the sciatic nerve, the hip ligaments or are present in the lower pelvic region. This type of hip pain normally worsens during menstruation and improves during the rest of the month. For some women it can cause limping or may even effect their ability to walk altogether.

The actual cause of the disease is still not entirely known. Early theories about the cause of endometriosis suggested that the misplacing of endometrial cells occurred when women had retrograde menstruation. This is where menstrual blood goes inward to pelvic organs instead of being flushed out of the uterus. However, this is largely disproved since most women experience retrograde menstruation but not all of them go onto develop endometriosis.

Recent studies about the disease revealed that endometriosis may result from an immune response exhibited towards the spread of endometrial cells. Furthermore, studies also shown a genetic link with the disease and thus heredity could be a significant factor. Unfortunately these studies have still not come up with a definite answer to what causes endometriosis. More studies are being conducted about this now.

The degree of endometriosis varies greatly among women, and so the treatment also differs quite extensively. When choosing a treatment option, there are a number of considerations to bear in mind.

A number of the medical treatments available are hormonal in nature and repress the production of estrogen in the body. This generally improves symptoms but means you will be unable to conceive due to ovulation stopping.

For mild endometriosis symptoms you can take painkillers and anti-inflammatories which are available either as over-the-counter medicines or prescription pain relievers.

Some women opt for conservative surgery. This primarily involves the removal and destruction of endometriosis implants and adhesions. This can also help eliminate the hip joint pain caused by the disease. Surgeries are usually done using a laparoscope for minimal invasion, but more serious treatments might require larger incisions.

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Endometriosis hip joint pain can interfere with your life quite dramatically each month. If you think you have the signs of the disease, you should immediately consult your doctor. Otherwise, it is best to regularly check with your OB/GYN to maintain good reproductive health.