- Main symptoms
- How to confirm the diagnosis
- How to treat bladder endometriosis
- Can endometriosis in the bladder cause infertility?
Bladder endometriosis is a disease in which the tissue of the endometrium grows outside the uterus, in this specific case, in the bladder walls. However, contrary to what happens in the uterus, in which this tissue is eliminated during menstruation, the endometrium that is in the bladder walls has nowhere to go, generating symptoms such as bladder pain, burning when urinating or frequent urge to urinate, especially during menstruation.
The occurrence of endometriosis in the urinary tract is rare, being found in 0.5% to 2% of all cases and usually occurs in women of childbearing age.
Endometriosis in the bladder has no cure, however, treatment with surgery or hormonal drugs can help relieve symptoms, especially in women with very intense manifestations of the disease.
Main symptoms
The symptoms of endometriosis in the bladder are unspecific and are often confused with menstrual period pains. They include:
- Discomfort when urinating; Pain in the pelvic region, kidneys or bladder region, which worsens with menstruation; Painful intercourse; More frequent visits to the bathroom to urinate; Presence of pus or blood in the urine, especially during menstruation; Excessive tiredness; Persistent fever below 38ºC.
When these symptoms exist, but infections in the urinary tract are not identified, the doctor may be suspicious of endometriosis and, therefore, tests such as laparoscopy may be ordered to look for the endometrial tissue in the bladder walls, confirming the diagnosis.
Check out 7 other symptoms that you may have endometriosis.
How to confirm the diagnosis
Videolaparoscopy for endometriosis in the bladder is a test widely used to diagnose the disease, where pelvic organs, including the bladder and ureters, are looked for for implants, nodules or adhesions caused by endometriosis.
However, before this test, the doctor may try to identify any changes through less invasive tests such as pelvic ultrasound or MRI, for example.
How to treat bladder endometriosis
Treatment for bladder endometriosis depends on age, desire to have children, intensity of symptoms and severity of injuries. However, the most used conducts are:
- Hormone therapy, with pill-like remedies, which decrease the production of endometrium in the bladder; Surgery for total or partial removal of the bladder, it may or may not be necessary to remove one or both ovaries; Both treatments, depending on the severity of the disease.
The consequences of endometriosis in the bladder when not treated correctly, are the occurrence of more serious urinary problems in the future, such as obstruction or urinary incontinence.
Can endometriosis in the bladder cause infertility?
Generally bladder endometriosis does not affect a woman's fertility, however, as there is an increased risk of also having endometriosis in the ovaries, some women may have greater difficulty in becoming pregnant, but it is only related to the change in the ovaries. Learn more about this type of endometriosis.
