Be proactive: Early diagnosis is essential to manage endometriosis, says Dr Abdul Kadir — AZMAN GHANI/The Star
PETALING JAYA: Do not dismiss pains and cramps during that time of the month, an obstetrician and gynaecologist has advised women.
Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz (HCTM) consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist Assoc Prof Dr Abdul Kadir Abdul Karim said one out of 10 to 15 women in Malaysia is likely to suffer from endometriosis, a gynaecological disorder.
He said every third patient of his seeking fertility treatment is diagnosed with endometriosis, a disease in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus.
It can cause severe pain in the pelvis and make it harder to get pregnant.
Dr Abdul Kadir said patients were mostly referred to him after their cases had already reached a severe stage.
He said this is because patients tend to dismiss their pain, resulting in a late diagnosis.
“Do not deprive yourself of medical care. If you are experiencing pain, seek treatment immediately to identify possible causes of the pain.
“If it is endometriosis, then effective treatment is available. It is better to control the disease rather than wait for it to go away, which it would not,” said the head of the HCTM Advanced Reproductive Centre.
Dr Abdul Kadir said endometriosis is classified into four stages, from minimal to severe.
He said a woman could typically experience mild to chronic symptoms, such as pelvic pain, during their menstrual cycle.
Other symptoms could be painful intercourse, painful urination and bowel movements, infertility, fatigue, depression, anxiety, constipation, diarrhoea, nausea and severe bloating.
“The pain can progress and last long after their menstruation has passed. The pain then becomes continuous or chronic until it is severe enough to require admission and injections to deal with it,” he added.
Dr Abdul Kadir also said it is possible for women with endometriosis to not have any symptoms.
“Usually, this happens during incidental finding, such as when the patient is seeking fertility treatment, or the patient had a surgery and it was revealed that she has endometriosis.
“Other rare symptoms of endometriosis are blood in the urine or faeces,” he added.
Dr Abdul Kadir said early diagnosis is essential to manage endometriosis.
“We want to avoid multiple surgeries for the patient. The earlier the diagnosis is made, the quicker it is quicker for us to find a suitable treatment for the patient based on the severity of the endometriosis.
“The patient must understand that the disease will not go away completely and can only be controlled.
“Once the patient understands that there is no cure, then it is easier for her to cope based on the treatment received,” he added.
Dr Abdul Kadir also advised those seeking to get pregnant to urgently get medical advice as treatment for endometriosis could delay the process of conceiving.
