Endometritis and Endometriosis are two very similar words that refer to an endometrial pathology, but no, they are not synonymous. It is important not to confuse endometritis with endometriosis, because, although they share the consequence of infertility, they are two diseases with very different causes, symptoms and treatments.
Endometritis is the inflammation or irritation of the endometrium (the inside the uterus). Endometriosis, on the otherhand, is a pathology that occurs when the endometrial tissue invades other organs outside of the uterus.
Additionally, endometritis usually appears due to an infection, a sexually transmitted disease or for other reasons. The causes of endometriosis, are not so clear, however previous factors can lead to the appearance of this disease, such as: early menstruation, short menstrual cycles, high levels of estrogens, an abnormal uterus, or having a genetic predisposition.
What are the symptoms of endometritis? What about endometriosis?
Symptoms of endometritis include: general malaise, fever, pelvic or abdominal pain, distended abdomen, bleeding or vaginal discharge. However, when endometritis becomes chronic, it can be asymptomatic or have nonspecific symptoms.
The most obvious symptom of endometriosis is pelvic pain during menstruation. It is not the typical discomfort that you may experience when you have a period, but it is a more intense pain. This can also be accompanied by cramps and an excessively heavy menstrual flow.
Another common symptom of endometriosis is pain during sexual intercourse.
Just as endometritis, when endometriosis becomes chronic it is more difficult to diagnose and often requires a biopsy.
How can genetic research help me?
Many assisted reproductive patients have a problem with their endometrial microbiota. Recurrent pregnancy loss can be caused by chronic endometritis, which is nothing more than a persistent inflammation of the endometrial mucosa caused by bacterial pathogens.Women with chronic endometritis are commonly asymptomatic, which is why this silent disease is found in many of the women who cannot conceive naturally.
For its diagnosis and treatment, Igenomix has developed ALICE and EMMA, two tests that have shown that the stabilization of the endometrial flora is essential to improve the reproductive prognosis. By performing ALICE and EMMA, we are able to understand the microbiological environment that the embryo will encounter at implantation. This in turn allows your physician to provide the necessary treatment(s) to optimize the endometrial microbiota, making it favorable for embryo implantation and pregnancy to occur
