Fatigue a symptom of menses disorder
A young woman suffering abdominal pain, one of the symptoms of endometriosis. Another often overlooked symptom is fatigue. FILE | NATION
Women with endometriosis are twice as likely to suffer fatigue, than those without, a new study has shown.
Researchers recruited 1,120 women, half with endometriosis and half without. The women completed a questionnaire on various factors relating to quality of life, endometriosis, medical and family histories, lifestyle and mental disorders.
They were asked to rate whether they had experienced fatigue and insomnia on a scale of 1 (never) to 5 (very often).
Women who had been diagnosed with endometriosis suffered fatigue more frequently. Moreover, fatigue from endometriosis was also associated with a seven-fold increase in insomnia, a four-fold increase in depression, a two-fold increase in pain and a nearly 1.5-fold increase in occupational stress.
The presence of fatigue in women with endometriosis remained significant even after adjusting for other factors that might play a role in fatigue such as pain, insomnia, occupational stress, depression and motherhood.
INFLAMMATION
The researchers stated that the reason why endometriosis could cause fatigue independently of the other factors, is that the endometrial lesions cause inflammation that activates the immune system.
Proteins called cytokines that are involved in cell signalling when the immune system is activated have been shown to play a role in fatigue symptoms.
Chronic exposure to high stress can also result in adrenal fatigue, and this could be another possible explanation.
Endometriosis is a condition in which the endometrial cells that line the inside of the womb also grow in other areas of the pelvic region, such as the ovaries and the abdominal cavity. In some cases, they grow outside the pelvic region. And just like when the endometrium is shed, causing bleeding during the monthly period, this misplaced endometrial cells also bleed.
The main symptoms of endometriosis are pain and infertility, although not all women will have these symptoms.
The cause is not known, but it can be treated with anti-inflammatory drugs and hormone therapy or surgery.
Researchers recommend addressing fatigue, insomnia, pain, depression and occupational stress as part of routine medical care to improve the quality of life for women with endometriosis.
