Women’s health is a vital area of focus, with conditions like endometriosis and ovarian cancer significantly impacting lives. Ovarian cancer and endometriosis are two distinct and interrelated conditions that affect the female reproductive system. Understanding the symptoms and realising the risk factors early is very important. This will help people get medical help on time, resulting in better health.
Ovarian cancer starts in the ovaries, which are situated at the sides of the uterus. They produce eggs and hormones like estrogen and progesterone that regulate menstrual cycles and reproduction. Ovarian cancer usually happens when abnormal cells in the fallopian tubes or ovaries grow and multiply out of control. These cells can enter and destroy the healthy body tissues.
Ovaries are made of three different kinds of cells (thecal cells, granulosa cells and oocytes). Each cell can develop into different types of tumours. The different types of tumours are:
● Epithelial tumours, which are the most common, start from the cells lining the outer surface of the ovary.
● Germ cell tumours start from the cells, which produce eggs.
● Stromal tumours begin from the structural tissue cells, which hold the ovaries and produce hormones like estrogen and progesterone.
Ovarian cancer symptoms are often very hard to understand in the early stages, as they may not show any early signs or symptoms. Many of the symptoms are uncertain and can be associated with other similar conditions.
● Discomfort, pain or swelling in the lower back, abdomen or pelvic area
● Frequent need to urinate
● Bloated feeling in the stomach
● Difficulty to eat food
● Tiredness
● Abnormal vaginal discharge or bleeding after menopause
● Diarrhoea or constipation
● Sudden weight loss
The causes of ovarian cancer remain unclear. They are primarily caused by changes in the genetic factors that develop during a person’s life. However, these genetic factors can sometimes be inherited. The factors that increase the risk of developing cancer in the ovaries include:
● A history of ovarian cancer in the family
● Having children at an older age or never becoming pregnant anytime
● Suffering from endometriosis
● Is obese or overweight
● Reaching menopause
Unfortunately, experts haven’t yet developed any screening tests to find ovarian cancer. For this reason, ovarian cancer diagnosis is often difficult in the early stages. If the doctor suspects the disease, he performs a pelvic examination to find any abnormal growths or enlarged organs. Other additional tests may also be done, including:
● Imaging Tests: MRI, CT scan, pelvic ultrasound and Positron Emission Tomography (PET scan) may be conducted to see any tumours or abnormalities in the ovaries.
● Blood tests: Blood tests are conducted for a substance called CA-125, which could be a sign of cancer. Though CA-125 levels may be normal, even when cancer is present, other tests are also done to diagnose the disease.
● Surgical Analysis: In some cases, doctors diagnose ovarian cancer during surgery. In such cases, they will remove the abnormal growths during the same procedure.
● Laparoscopy: During laparoscopic surgery, a surgeon makes small incisions in the abdomen through which a thin tube with a camera and other surgical instruments are inserted. Using this as a guide, he can assess the cancer, perform biopsies and sometimes even remove ovarian tumours.
Endometriosis is a painful health disorder that affects the ovaries, fallopian tubes and the tissues lining the pelvic region. Endometriosis causes the formation of tissues that are almost similar to the uterus’s lining and develop outside the uterus. When endometriosis involves the ovaries, cysts called endometrioma may form. The surrounding tissues get irritated and form scar tissue. Bands of fibrous tissues may form, which causes the organs and the pelvic tissues to stick to each other. Endometriosis can cause menstrual pain. Fertility problems can also arise. This condition affects 1 in 10 women worldwide.
Endometriosis symptoms usually happen years after menstruation starts. There are many symptoms of endometriosis, but the most common is pelvic pain. Pelvic pain can be mild or intense and often becomes worse just before and during menstrual cycles. It is due to the inflammation brought on by the hormonal changes that happen at that time. The main symptoms include:
● Back pain or abdominal pain in between periods or during periods
● Pain during sex
● Infertility
● Painful menstrual cramps with light or heavy bleeding during periods
● Pain when peeing or pooping
● Stomach problems like bloating, diarrhea or constipation.
● Fatigue or nausea
The main cause of endometriosis is not clear. Some of the possible causes include:
● Reverse menstruation: This occurs when menstrual flow, instead of leaving the body, flows backwards into the pelvic area through the fallopian tubes. This blood contains uterine cells that stick to the pelvic organs, where they may grow and bleed during the menstrual cycle. This is considered to be one possible cause of endometriosis, leading to pain, inflammation and scarring.
● Embryonic cell changes: Estrogen might transform some embryonic cells into endometrial-like cell growths during puberty.
● Peritoneal cell transformation: Hormones may cause cells lining the inner side of the abdomen, called peritoneal cells, to transform into cells similar to those in the uterine wall.
● Endometrial cell transport: The tissue fluid system or blood vessels might move the endometrial cells to other parts of the body.
● Immune system condition: An immune problem may prevent the body from recognising and destroying endometriosis tissue.
● Surgical scar complications: Endometrial cells might stick to scar tissue from a cut made during C-section surgery to the stomach.
It is important to note that the diagnosis process of endometriosis may vary from one person to the other. This condition shows symptoms similar to irritable bowel syndrome, which prolongs the diagnosis. It can take 4 to 11 years from the onset of symptoms to diagnosis, according to recent research published. Doctors might use one or more of the following tests to help diagnose endometriosis:
● Pelvic exam
● Laparoscopy
● Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
● Abdominal, transvaginal ultrasounds or both
Endometriosis has no cure, but its symptoms can be managed through diagnosis. Medical and surgical options are available to reduce the symptoms and manage endometriosis complications. If the conditions do not improve, then doctors may recommend surgery.
Endometriosis, also referred to as “endometrial lesions” or “ectopic endometrial growths”, involves the growth and development of endometrial-like cells outside the uterus, leading to symptoms like intense pain in the pelvic area, excessive menstrual flow and infertility. Ovarian cancer may also involve the abnormal proliferation of tissue that can cause an impact on the reproductive tract. Since both conditions involve abnormal growths in the pelvic part, they share common symptoms like pelvic pain and bloating pressure.
● Continuous stomach pain
● Tendency to urinate often
● Persistent bloating of the stomach
● Feeling too full and having difficulty eating
● Feeling very tired
● Losing weight without a clear reason.
● Changes in bowel habits
Endometriosis does not always lead to ovarian cancer. It can increase the risk of developing ovarian cancer in women with severe endometriosis. Though the overall chance of developing ovarian cancer remains low, there is a significant connection between the two. However, researchers have not yet found exact data to link the two conditions.
Endometriosis may increase the chance of getting ovarian cancer for several reasons, such as:
● An increase in the amount of estrogen promotes tumour development.
● Leading to genetic changes in the tumour-suppressing ARIDIA gene.
● Moving the cells of the endometrial lining to the pelvis area through menstrual discharge that may grow into surrounding tissues over time.
Yes, women with endometriosis have a higher likelihood of developing specific types of ovarian cancer, like endometrioid and clear cell cancers.
Treatment options for endometriosis include pain relief, hormonal therapy and, if needed, surgery to remove endometrial growths or, in severe cases, the uterus.
People can manage personal risk factors, undergo genetic counselling and take birth control pills to reduce their risk of ovarian cancer. Treatment may help ease the symptoms, but it isn’t proven to lower cancer risk. Hormonal therapies may have some protective issues.
