Ashtabula County Medical Center | ACMC Pulse | Winter 2019

6 ACMC Pulse  • acmchealth.org A YOUNG WOMAN EXPERIENCES PAIN each time she has her period or during intercourse. A woman has noticed recurring abdominal cramping and thinks she has irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). A woman in her late 20s has tried, and failed, for several years to become pregnant. What do all three have in common? The root cause of each of their problems could be endometriosis. It occurs when the tissue lining the uterus moves outside the uterus. It can spread into the ovaries, fallopian tubes or other pelvic organs. “Each month, when a woman has her menstrual period, the endometrial tissue thickens and then breaks down and bleeds,” said Ashtabula County Medical Center OB-GYN Ahmed Shahata, MD. “This lining of the uterus is normally shed through the vagina. However, sometimes the endometrial tissue does not shed. This can cause pain or ultimately lead to blockages.” Women’s health GET WELL For more about endometriosis and women’s health, visit acmchealth.org/services/womens-services . To schedule an appointment with Dr. Shahata or any ACMC OB-GYN specialist, call 440-997-6915 . I encourage my patients to talk to me about what is going on with their bodies, even if they are just in for a routine exam. Misdiagnosis is common Due to the variety of pelvic organs that can be affected by endometrial tissue, endometriosis could easily be misdiagnosed as cysts, IBS, pelvic inflammatory disease or chronic pain. “This is why I encourage my patients to talk to me about what is going on with their bodies, even if they are just in for a routine exam,” Dr. Shahata said. “Normally, you might not think to talk to your OB-GYN if you are being treated for irritable bowel syndrome. But the cause of IBS may be endometriosis, which is treatable.” In addition to talking about your overall health, an annual OB-GYN visit can potentially diagnose growing cysts. An ultrasound or MRI may be needed to obtain a better view of internal organs and tissue. In some cases, laparoscopic surgery is required to take samples to determine if endometriosis is present. The good news If endometriosis is diagnosed, treatment may involve medication, hormone therapy or surgery. “The good news is that when we catch endometriosis early enough, we avoid further health complications and reduce the risk to the cells of the endometrial tissues spreading further,” said Dr. Shahata. “We have a variety of treatment options that can alleviate the immediate symptoms and restore a woman’s quality of life.” Women: What’s really going on? WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT ENDOMETRIOSIS —Ahmed Shahata, MD