Women may be at higher risk of endometriosis
Women may be at higher risk of endometriosis
Dewi Santoso, Jakarta
Female air travellers and flight attendants are advised to avoid
traveling by air for longer than five hours at a time while
having their periods, as flying may increase their risk of
developing endometriosis, a disease that often results in
infertility.
"The higher they fly, the more air pressure. For women who are
having their periods, high pressure can block the flow of blood,
forcing it to stay in the uterus," obstetrician/gynecologist
Julianto Witjaksono said during a seminar at Mitra Keluarga
Hospital in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta, on Saturday.
He said the longer the flight, the harder it is for the
uterus to withstand the blood. If that happens, the blood may be
pushed back to areas outside the uterus.
"The blood will fill up the areas, which could include the
intestines and stomach, creating an excruciating feeling of pain
around the pelvic area," he said.
Endometriosis is a condition in which the same kind of tissue
that lines the walls of the uterus grows outside the uterus in
the pelvic cavity or some other area of the body, causing extreme
pelvic pain during the menstrual period.
Julianto, who works at Harapan Kita Hospital, said sexual
intercourse during menstruation increased the possibility of
endometriosis because it forced the blood to flow backward to
outside the uterus.
Genetics is another factor in endometriosis, although usually
the disease is triggered by multiple factors, he said.
"If your mother or one of your siblings has endometriosis,
then your risk of developing endometriosis is 8 percent," he
said.
According to Julianto, women between the ages of 26 and 35
were most at risk of developing endometriosis (52 percent),
followed by those between the ages of 19 and 25 (24 percent), and
those between the ages of 36 and 45 (15 percent). For women who
have already entered menopause, the risk of developing the
disease is only about 3 percent.
"Endometriosis is related to the menstrual cycle. The more
often you have your menstrual period, the higher your risk of
developing endometriosis," he said.
He added that endometriosis needed to be treated immediately
as it could cause infertility.
"Almost 60 percent of women who have endometriosis suffer from
infertility," Julianto said.
Treatments for the disease include reducing the hormones
estrogen and progesterone, and the enzymes that produce the two
hormones.
Early detection is key to treating the disease, Julianto said.
Some of the steps for early detection include checking your
temperature during the menstrual period and undergoing an
ultrasonography, CT-SCAN, MRI and laparoscopy tests.
Frequent exercise, taking vitamins and avoiding junk food and
canned foods will help prevent the disease. Food preservatives
often found in canned foods and junk food can trigger
endometriosis.
Julianto said exercise helped the body to relax and,
therefore, helped the blood flow normally.
"For those who have endometriosis, stay away from soybeans as
they contain phyto-estrogen, which increases the amount of
estrogen," he said.
Common symptoms of endometriosis
1. Dysmenorrhea or premenstrual pain
2. Chronic pelvic pain
3. Dysparreunia or pain during sexual intercourse
4. Infertility
5. Vaginal bleeding
6. Diarrhea, constipation during menstruation