Coping with Endometriosis

This volume should be required reading for women suffering from endometriosisthe growth of tissue resembling the lining of the uterus on other parts of the body, characterized by severe pain during menstrual periods and intercourse, and precipitating infertility. Breitkopf, director of the Endometriosis Clinic of the New York Infirmary-Beekman Downtown Hospital, with the help of medical writer Bakoulis, presents a lucid description of endometriosis and the havoc it can wreak on women's lives. Empathetic to the physical distress caused by the ailment and to the emotional trauma that results when gynecologists don't take sufferers' complaints seriously, Breitkopf makes a strong case that endometriosis is an autoimmune disorder that prevents certain women from rejecting endometrial cells. He believes a key to coping with the disease is education and lists the drugs commonly prescribed, their effectiveness and possible side effects. In addition, he includes a detailed explanation of laparoscopycurrently the only diagnostic procedure for endometriosisand chapters on laser surgery and on developing physician-patient partnerships during treatment. In the final chapter on managing the disease, he utilizes case studies to demonstrate that women can cope successfully with the condition. Illustrated. (June)