Introduction
The reproductive system is a sensitive area, and people will opt not to publicly discuss. Yet, it is a very critical component of one’s general health. Proper functioning of the reproductive system leads to increased productivity, better self-esteem, and improved quality of life. However, any disorder of the reproductive system can result in great psychological disturbances because most people will prefer to suffer in silence due to the sensitizing nature of this area. This paper aims at discussing two reproductive system disorders by examining their causes, pathophysiology, etiological factors, treatment, and their comparison to each other.
Two Reproductive System Disorders
Endometriosis
Endometriosis occurs when endometrial-like cells develop and proliferate in other areas of the body other than the uterine cavity. These cells behave like normal endometrial tissue and self-diagnosis may not be possible since bleeding is in conjunction with the normal menstrual cycle (Craft et al., 2011). According to Woo & Wynne (2011, p. 1385), endometriosis is attributed to genes and depressed cytotoxic T-cell response to endometrial cells prevailing in ectopic sites. Diagnosis of endometriosis entails imaging, laboratory tests, and differential diagnosis such as acute appendicitis.
Endometriosis can occur anywhere in the body, but the most common affected areas are the ovaries, rectovaginal septum, intestines, uterine ligaments, pleural cavity, bladder, lungs, vulva, and pelvic peritoneum. The rapid growth of the ectopic endometrium attributed to cyclical changes in gonadal hormones results in the breakdown and bleeding as part of the typical menstrual cycle. The release of inflammatory mediators due to bleeding leads to pain in the adjacent tissues.
In addition, fibrosis, adhesions, and scarring result, and these are the causes for infertility among women with endometriosis. Evident symptoms of the inflammation due to the bleeding include dyspareunia, pelvic pain, and dysmenorrheal. A less dramatic treatment regime is recommended for endometriosis with the administration of GnRH agonists for 3 months or danazol for 6 months. Add-back regimens are incorporated to help reduce bone mineral loss induced by GnRH (Woo, & Wynne, 2011, p. 1385).
Epididymitis
Epididymitis is a reproductive disorder that entails the inflammation of the epididymitis, which is the coiled tubular location that holds the sperms before they mature and pass on to the vas deferens. Various causes are responsible for this disease, and these range from bacterial, fungal, and viral infections, idiopathic inflammatory causes, trauma, vasculitis, and autoimmune disease. Acute epididymitis is attributed to the retrograde flow of infected urine into the ejaculatory duct.
The diagnosis of epididymitis entails physical examinations, ultrasound, and needle aspiration. Initially, corticosteroids are used as the first line of treatment to suppress pain and swelling.
Factors
Genetic predisposition is a great contributing factor to endometriosis. This condition prevails more among women who have a first-degree relative with a similar condition in comparison to the general population. Epididymitis, also, has a link to the genetic makeup because the infertility factor has a significant relationship with chronic epididymitis, as indicated by Chapple & Steers (2011 (p. 310). Infertile male patients may indicate a history of chronic epididymitis which is attributed to changes in the spermatozoa DNA integrity. Age is another factor that is common in both disorders.
No literature gives a direct link between age or genes and treatment, but some indirect associations are observable. Age in epididymitis impacts treatment because men at different ages get the disorder from different etiological factors; hence, treatment is varied. Men, less than 35 years are more prone to C. trachomatis and N. gonorrhea while men above the age of 35 are mainly infected by urinary tract pathogens (Chapple & Steers, 2011).
Genetic makeup impacts treatment through the type of endometriosis developed. Genes are responsible for the chronic endometriosis that is treated using estrogen-progesterone, progestins, GnRH (earlier described), and in severe cases, a patient undergoes surgery (Kennedy, 2013). Acute endometriosis that is mainly due to infection requires nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to ameliorate the symptoms of dysmenorrhea (Kennedy, 2013).
Similarities and Differences
Both disorders are inflammatory diseases that are largely defined by swelling and subsequent pain. Both disorders can lead to long-term and more serious diseases such as infertility (Marx, Hockberger, Walls & Adams, 2010, p. 1317). Both diseases affect young individuals, who are less than 30 years. In both, there is retrograde of some sort; hence causing the disorder. In endometriosis, there is a retrograde of menstruation while in epididymitis, there is a retrograde of urine (Chapple & Steers, 2011).
On a different note, endometriosis affects women while epididymitis affects the male population. In addition, bacterial, fungal, and viral infections precede the occurrence of epididymitis while these infections do not precede endometriosis.
Conclusion
Epididymitis and endometriosis are serious reproductive disorders that can go unnoticed and thereby cause serious consequences. Even though the two disorders have an array of different etiological factors, genes and age are salient prevailing factors in the two disorders. Early treatment in both disorders is very imperative; otherwise, infertility may result. Since the disorders affect young adults, this may interfere with their ability to have children.
References
Chapple, C., & Steers, W. (Eds.). (2011). Practical urology: Essential principles and practice. London: Springer-Verlag.
Craft, J., Gordon, C., Tiziani, A., Huether, S., McCance, K., Brashers, V., & Rte, N. (2011). Understanding pathophysiology. Victoria: Elsevier.
Kennedy, J. F. (2013). Ferri’s clinical advisor. Philadelphia: Elsevier Inc.
Marx, J. A., Hockberger, R. S., Walls, R., & Adams, J. (2010). Rosen’s Emergency Medicine-Concepts and Clinical Practice, 2-Volume Set. Philadelphia: Elsevier.
Woo, T., & Wynne, A. (2011). Pharmacotherapeutics for Nurse Practitioner Prescribers. Philadelphia: F. A. Davis.