Does Endometriosis Cause UTIs?

Endometriosis is considered as a menstrual disorder however it can spread through the pelvic region exceeding its effect on your bladder and urinary health. In that case the question may arise: does endometriosis cause UTIs or Urinary Tract Infection? In a few cases where endometriosis affects the bladder and the ureter there are chances that endometriosis can cause UTIs. Let’s understand different facts about endometriosis and how it can affect the bladder and ureter.

What is Endometriosis?

Endometriosis is a disease when tissues similar to the uterus lining grow outside of the uterus and don’t go away. WHO says endometriosis affects roughly 10% of women and girls of reproductive age globally. Research shows 11% of women in United States are suffering from endometriosis.

It can be painful and you can also experience uncomfortable symptoms which can affect your daily lifestyle. Some women with endometriosis also face difficulty in getting pregnant. Some research shows that endometriosis can weaken your body’s immune system and a weak immune system means you are less capable of fighting infections.

Bladder endometriosis is a very rare condition and only 1% of people suffer from this, however 50% people do not experience any kind of symptoms of Urinary Tract Endometriosis and making this condition difficult to diagnose. Urinary tract endometriosis can also affect the kidney & urethra.

Endometriosis mostly found in the

• Ovaries
• Fallopian Tube
• Tissues that hold the uterus in place
• Outer surface of the uterus
• Vagina
• Cervix
• Vulva
• Bowel
• Bladder

In very rare cases endometriosis can be found in other parts of the body such as lungs, brain and skin.

Causes of Endometriosis

The exact cause of Endometriosis is still unknown but there are some possible causes which can lead you to endometriosis. These are

Retrograde Menstruation

When menstrual blood contains endometrial cells that flow back through the fallopian tube into the pelvic cavity instead of flowing out of the body, then they may stick to the pelvic wall, grow there and continue to become thicker.

Transformed Peritoneal Cells

As per the experts, hormones and the immune system may help to transform cells from one form to another. The Peritoneal cells that line inside of the abdomen area can transform into the cells that are similar to the cells line inside of the uterus.

Embryonic Cell Changes

Sometimes estrogen can transform embryonic cells into endometrial-like cell growths during puberty.

Surgical Scar Complication

After a surgery to the stomach area there is a high chance that the endometrial cells may attach to scar tissue from cuts made during surgery.

Immune system condition

A low immune system weakens your body and your body loses its capability to recognize or destroy endometriosis tissue.

Endometrial Cell Transport

The blood vessels and tissue fluid helps endometrial tissue to move and transfer from one part to other parts of the body.

What is UTI?

UTIs or Urinary Tract Infection is an infection which appears in the urinary system. Urinary system contains Kidneys, Bladder, Ureters and Urethra. Most UTIs happen in the lower urinary system which means in bladder and urethra. UTIs are more common in women than men because their Urethras are shorter which makes it easier for bacteria to enter the urinary system.

There are a few factors which can increase the chances of UTIs

• A Previous UTI
• Structural problem in the Urinary Tract
• Sexual Activity
• Poor Hygiene
• Blockage in Urinary Tract
• Menopause

How does Endometriosis Cause UTIs?

The symptoms of Endometriosis and UTIs are similar enough that there is possibility to be misdiagnosed. Ureter and bladder are the most commonly affected areas of urinary tract endometriosis. When endometriosis affects the bladder the endometrial lesions attach to the bladder and they trap blood and make the bladder become inflamed and you can also feel bladder pain which means you are developing symptoms similar to UTI. Other symptoms such as painful urination, pain during sex, frequent need of urination, blood in urine and sometimes urinary incontinence can also happen. It is also possible that women who have chronic pelvic pain can actually have interstitial cystitis, a condition where the walls of the bladder become irritated or inflamed.

If your UTIs is resistant to antibiotics or the symptoms are returning quickly after finishing the medication then you may have endometriosis in your urinary tract.

However, endometriosis is a very rare cause of developing UTI and it can happen only in a few people. So you should not be thinking always that if you have endometriosis then this can cause UTIs.

Risk Factors of Urinary Tract Endometriosis

There are some risk factor which helps to develop bladder pain due to endometriosis

• Tobacco use
• Family history of IC/BPS or urinary tract endometriosis
• High alcohol consumption
• Poor diet
• High body mass index (BMI)

Treatment of Urinary Tract Endometriosis

In the medical world there is actually no cure for urinary tract infections caused by endometriosis however, there are a few methods which can help control the symptoms over time.

Medication

Some doctors recommend oral medication or suggest to undergo bladder instillation which is a process of delivering medicine to the bladder through a catheter to manage symptoms.

Surgery

Surgery is not a commonly used method to treat urinary tract endometriosis but laparoscopy is the most effective way to treat this. So depending upon your health condition and age your doctor can give you the best advice on this.

Lifestyle Changes

Women with urinary tract endometriosis can manage the symptoms with the following lifestyle changes:

• Doing exercise that strengthen the pelvic area
• Avoid foods that irritate the bladder, such as citrus, caffeine, carbonated drinks, and foods with high Vitamin C concentrations
• Train the bladder by setting times and intervals to urinate
• Wear loose-fitting clothes
• Reduce stress levels
• Quit smoking

Does Endometriosis Cause UTIs? Now you all have answer to this question. Furthermore, you must understand that if Urinary Tract Endometriosis is left untreated then it can lead you to infertility so if you are feeling bladder and Urethra pain don’t wait further and consult with your doctor as soon as possible.

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