Fighting Endometriosis Trivia Quiz

Answer: chest pain

Most women who have endometriosis experience irregular bleeding, pain, and weakness. Bleeding is often a sign of endometriosis because females will start "spotting" or having blood flow during the times they are not on their cycle. Sometimes the lesions of endometriosis attach themselves to other organs in the body causing bleeding from the intestines or abdominal area. Cycles can become very close together or last for over a month. Pain and bleeding both weaken the body and depending on the intensity causes some females to be very weak.

However chest pain is not a common symptom.

Answer: animal contact

Many women who have endometriosis could genetically pass it to other generations. Women who have the second generation of endometriosis tend to have more severe symptoms. Scientists have also theorized that environment can play a part. During pregnancy, environments and chemicals can affect the fetus, thus causing the baby to develop chemical imbalances, such as the hormone imbalances that produce endometriosis.

Another factor scientists have considered is people's diets. Many processed foods contain chemicals that may affect hormones in the body.

Answer: breathing limitations

Any condition that prevents normal menstrual flow can lead to build up and endometrial tissue that can start growing in other areas. Uterine abnormalities can also lead to this. One condition is the "heart shaped" uterus that has a dent or wall dividing the uterus in half. Females who have it have a tendency to bleed more irregularly and endometriosis can grow in the abnormal area. Never giving birth also puts females at risk because pregnancy can change hormones. Females with a hormone imbalance have been known develop cysts and endometriosis at faster rates.

Answer: It protects one from getting a sexually transmitted disease.

Progesterone is a natural hormone of the female system that works to repress the growth of endometrial lesions and tissue. The most common applications of progesterone are in birth control pills or progesterone cream. The hormone directly inhibits the growth of endometrial cells by slowing down chemical reactions in the uterus.

However it is not a complete cure for endometriosis and does not have the ability to kill existing endometrial cells. It also does not protect one from getting a sexually transmitted disease.

Answer: seizures

Estrogen has been found to affect certain brain cells and high levels of estrogen have been linked to causing seizures in some females. Birth control pills with estrogen keep levels at consistently high levels and put some females at a higher risk for seizures.

Some females have seizures from estrogen imbalances as a natural occurrence during times of their cycle. Progesterone on the other hand, is a hormone that has lowered the occurrences of seizures in some females.

Answer: intrauterine device

Intrauterine devices help the symptoms of endometriosis by minimizing a woman's monthly cycle or stopping it completely. It is placed inside the uterus with the branches placed on both sides close to the ovaries. The hormones that it gives off can reduce the growth of endometriosis lesions and tissue.

The device is also thought to reduce the growth of cysts that can develop on the ovaries. Most IUDs used to treat endometriosis contain progesterone. Some side effects with endometriosis patients include severe cramping and spotting bleeding.

The device can be easily removed and most women can start their cycles again soon after.

Answer: GnRH-a

GnRH-a (Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Agonists)therapy stops menstrual cycles and shrinks endometriosis lesions by temporarily turning off the pituitary gland and the ovaries ability to produce hormones. It is used in many cases where birth control methods have been ineffective. In some cases it is used before surgeries and can reduce the amount of pain and scar tissue by making lesions easier to remove. However this therapy has many risks and is only a temporary relief. It can cause pre-menopause, hot flashes, bone thinning, and vaginal pain. Endometriosis can grow back and pain has been known to return. According to a 2014 article from WedMd, " Each year, up to 20% of all women treated will have pain return after hormone treatment. About 37% of women who use hormone therapy for mild endometriosis have pain 5 years later. About 74% of women who use hormone therapy for severe endometriosis have pain 5 years later."


Source:"http://www.webmd.com/women/endometriosis/gonadotropin-releasing-hormone-agonist-gnrh-a-therapy-for-endometriosis"

Answer: laparoscopy

In a laparoscopy, surgeons will insert a thin tube through the belly and inflate the area with gas. This allows skin to separate from the internal organs for cameras to view the female organs, pelvis, and any adhesions or cysts that may develop. (It is also used to find cancer or other conditions that may prevent females from getting pregnant.) Once inside, surgeons can remove endometriosis by burning it off with lasers or removing it manually.

In many cases it is considered a minor surgery and does not require a long hospitalization. However each time it is performed, the surgery will leave scar tissue. Scar tissue can prevent pregnancy and also cause more pain over time.

Source: WebMD,"http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/laparoscopy-16156"

Answer: oophorectomy

Most doctors will recommend avoiding surgical procedures if possible, but sometimes the growth of endometriosis cannot be controlled with therapy or hormone treatments. Ovaries are almond shaped organs in the female's reproductive system that control hormones and produce eggs. In an oophorectomy, one or both of the ovaries are removed. Depending on the case, sometimes it is possible to remove one instead of both, so females can still have a chance of fertility. One of the major risks of this surgery is that it can lead to premature menopause.

Source: "http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/oophorectomy"

Answer: True

Females still can have the risk of developing endometriosis even after having their uterus completely removed. Some doctors believe this may be caused by lesions or tissue that may be left behind during the removal.

"Some studies have shown that the recurrence rate of endometriosis after hysterectomy is as high as 10% in one year after surgery. This percentage increases to 40% five years after a hysterectomy."

http://www.endometriosissymptom.com/endometriosis_after_hysterectomy.html