Bowel endometriosis
Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus (womb) grows somewhere in your body that it shouldn’t. This might be the fallopian tubes, the ovaries, or the bowel.
This abnormal tissue reacts similarly to that in the womb: it grows and breaks down in response to hormonal cycles. However, because these cells are not in your uterus, the blood that is produced cannot leave your body like menstrual blood does. This can cause inflammation, pain and the formation of scar tissue.
It is a long-term and often debilitating disease, which can affect women of any age.
Symptoms of endometriosis
Symptoms can include:
- Painful periods
- Heavy periods
- Pain in your tummy or back
- Pain during or after sexual intercourse
- Nausea (feeling sick)
- Fatigue
Endometriosis can also lead to mental health problems, like depression or anxiety, and problems with your bowel, bladder and fertility.
Bowel endometriosis
The condition can affect your bowel in two ways:
- Superficially, where endometriosis grows on the surface of the bowel
- Deep, where endometriosis can grow into the bowel wall
Symptoms of bowel endometriosis
You may experience symptoms similar to irritable bowel syndrome. However, they will often be worse just before and during your period. There should be a noticeable pattern to the problem.
Symptoms can include:
- Pain during bowel movements
- Pain felt deep in the pelvic area during or after intercourse
- Bleeding from the rectum during a period
- Diarrhoea
- Constipation
- Bloating
- Straining
Causes
The exact cause of bowel and other types of endometriosis is unknown. However, some of the possible theories include:
- Retrograde menstruation: this is when blood flows backwards during a period and goes into the pelvis instead of out of the body. This can cause the tissue to attach to your bowel.
- Genetics: this condition can sometimes run in families
- A problem with the immune system
- Previous surgery involving the uterus
Diagnosis
It can be difficult to diagnose bowel endometriosis as other conditions can cause similar problems. Therefore, we may use a variety of methods to diagnose it, such as:
- Vaginal examination
- Ultrasound scan: this uses sound waves to form images of your organs. This test cannot diagnose endometriosis, but it can locate abnormal tissue if there is enough.
- Computerised tomography (CT) scan and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan: if deep endometriosis is suspected
- Laparoscopy (keyhole surgery) to look inside the abdomen or bowel
Treatment
Treatment options depend on the severity of the condition, the areas that are affected and your needs. Painkillers and hormone treatments can help you control your symptoms and make your condition more manageable.
For bowel endometriosis, an operation is usually recommended. This may be done as keyhole surgery (laparoscopy) or open surgery. More than one operation might be required.
The types of surgical treatment options include:
- ‘Shaving’ away the affected areas of your bowel. This leaves your bowel intact, but this may also leave some endometriosis untouched. This can be done through laparoscopy
- Removing a disc of the affected bowel and then closing the hole left in the bowel. This is usually for smaller areas of endometriosis
- In more serious cases, the affected section of your bowel will be removed and then re-joined. This is called re-anastomosis.
Our specialists will discuss the treatment options as well as the surgical benefits and risks with you thoroughly.
Book an appointment
If you have symptoms of bowel endometriosis, our specialist team can help diagnose and manage your condition. Book an appointment with us today.
We offer private consultations, testing, diagnosis, and treatment to ensure you have the best quality care every step of the way. You can book face-to-face and remote consultations.
Tests
Laparoscopy
Treatments / Symptom Management
Medications
Surgery