Endometriosis - L'Infirmière Magazine n° 399 du 01/12/2018 | Espace Infirmier
 

L'infirmière Magazine n° 399 du 01/12/2018

 

FORMATION ANGLAIS

ÉMILIEN MOHSEN  

professeur d’anglais aux Ifsi de Nancy
et Auteur de « Maîtriser l’anglais
médical »« L’anglais médical
pratique », éd. Lamarre

During an internship in gynecology, the doctor is explaining to the trainee nurse what a poorly diagnosed endometriosis is and what treatments are proposed.

Trainee: How can we tell that someone might have endometriosis?

Staff: Endometriosis happens when tissue normally found inside the uterus grows in other parts of the body, like the ovaries, fallopian tubes, the exterior of the uterus, the bowel, or other internal parts. With the change of hormones, the endometrium breaks down and may cause pain before, during or after the menstrual cycle, long-term painful adhesions, or scar tissue. To identify endometriosis, we consider when the pain happens, how bad it is, how long it lasts, if it changes or worsens, and if it limits daily activities. We also do pelvic exams or scans, or laparoscopy to confirm the initial diagnosis or rule it out.

Trainee: We all know that periods are generally painful, aren’t they?

Staff: Most women have some mild pain. But if the pain lasts more than 2 days, or remains after your period is over, or if the pain is disabling in daily life, or that you feel ongoing pain in the pelvis and lower back, this may indicate endometriosis.

Trainee: Who’s at risk of it then?

Staff: This would begin at teenage but it’s more common in women as of their 30s, who have had no children, whose periods last longer than 7 days or have cycles shorter than 28 days, who started their period before the age of 12 or whose mother or sister has had endometriosis.

Trainee: I suppose this can bring about infertility! Staff: Many women don’t have trouble getting pregnant, though sterility might sometimes be the first, or only, symptom. However, pregnancy itself can relieve some symptoms. And in case of infertility, in vitro fertilization is an option.

Trainee: What would trigger endometriosis initially?

Staff: We don’t know. We suppose that heredity, some endometrial cells present from birth, physiology or a faulty immune system might play a role.

Trainee: Are there any treatments that may relieve and eventually cure endometriosis?

Staff: Pain killers only relieve pain and cramps. Oral contraceptives make menstrual periods shorter and lighter. Hormone therapy mimic menopause and get rid of periods along with endometriosis symptoms, but this can cause menopause-like side effects and even birth defects. Laparotomy is used to remove endometrial growths or adhesions and results in most women having immediate pain relief and an improved pregnancy rate, but symptoms return over time. Hysterectomy has a high success rate, but endometriosis still recurs in some cases.

Trainee: Can we at least recommend some lifestyle activities to cope with the symptoms?

Staff: Yes. We might advise regular exercise to improve the blood flow and boost endorphins. Acupuncture, yoga, massage, and meditation may also help relieve some symptoms.

Trainee: And does endometriosis stop with age?

Staff: For most women, it does recede with menopause. The good news is that an encouraging number of women with mild endometriosis will find that their symptoms resolve on their own.

VOCABULAIRE

Endometriosis: endométriose

Fallopian tubes: trompes de Fallope

Heavy bleeding: saignement abondant

Mild pain: douleur légère, modérée

Painful adhesions: adhérences douloureuses

Poorly diagnosed: mal diagnostiqué

Pregnancy: grossesse

Scar tissue: tissu cicatriciel

Common phrases

Endometriosis would begin at teenage but it’s more common in women as of their 30s.

→ L’endométriose peut se déclencher à l’adolescence mais elle est plus courante chez la femme à partir de la trentaine.

When we diagnose endometriosis, we consider when pain happens, how bad it is, how long it lasts, if it changes or worsens, and if it limits daily activities.

→ Pour diagnostiquer une endométriose, nous prenons en compte le moment où la douleur se produit, son intensité, sa durée, si elle change ou s’aggrave, et si elle a un impact sur les activités quotidiennes.

Hormone therapy can cause menopause-like side effects and even birth defects.

→ La thérapie hormonale peut avoir des effets indésirables qu’on associe à la ménopause, et même des anomalies chez les nouveau-nés.

The good news is that some women with mild endometriosis will find that their symptoms resolve on their own.

→ Il est rassurant de savoir que chez certaines femmes avec une endométriose modérée, les symptômes peuvent se résorber spontanément.