Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a common health problem in women. It gets its name from the word endometrium,
the tissue that lines the uterus (womb). In women with this problem, tissue that looks and acts
like the lining of the uterus grows outside of the uterus in other areas. These areas can be called
growths, tumors, implants, lesions, or nodules.
Most endometriosis is found on or under the ovaries, behind the uterus, on the tissues that
hold the uterus in place, or on the bowels or bladder. Endometriosis rarely grows in the lungs or
other parts of the body. This "misplaced" tissue can cause pain, infertility, and very heavy
periods.
No one knows for sure what causes this disease, but scientists have a number of theories. They
know that endometriosis runs in families. If your mother or sister has endometriosis, you are six
times more likely to get the disease than other women. So, one theory suggests that endometriosis
is caused by genes.
Another theory is that during a woman's monthly periods, some endometrial tissue backs up
into the abdomen through the fallopian tubes. This transplanted tissue then grows outside the
uterus. Many researchers think a faulty immune system plays a part in endometriosis. In women with
the disease, the immune system fails to find and destroy endometrial tissue growing outside of the
uterus. Plus, a recent study shows that immune system disorders (health problems in which the body
attacks itself) are more common in women with endometriosis. More research in this area may help
doctors better understand and treat endometriosis.
Why do patches of endometriosis cause pain and health problems?
Growths of endometriosis are almost always benign or not cancerous, but still can cause many
problems. To see why, it helps to understand a woman's monthly cycle. Every month, hormones cause
the lining of a woman's uterus to build up with tissue and blood vessels. If a woman does not get
pregnant, the uterus sheds this tissue and blood. It comes out of the body through the vagina as
her menstrual period.
Patches of endometriosis also respond to a woman's monthly cycle. Each month the growths add
extra tissue and blood, but there is no place for the built-up tissue and blood to exit the body.
For this reason, growths tend to get bigger and the symptoms of endometriosis often get worse over
time.
Tissue and blood that is shed into the body can cause inflammation, scar tissue, and pain. As
the misplaced tissue grows, it can cover or grow into the ovaries and block the fallopian tubes.
This can make it hard for women with endometriosis to get pregnant. The growths can also cause
problems in the intestines and bladder.
Why is it important to find out if I have endometriosis?
The pain of endometriosis can interfere with your life. Studies show that women with
endometriosis often skip school, work, and social events. This health problem can also get in the
way of relationships with your partner, friends, children, and co-workers. Plus, endometriosis can
make it hard for you to get pregnant.
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Therapies
Options and considerations after diagnosis. -
Symptoms and detection
Signs to watch for and testing methods. -
Risk factors
Factors that may increase or decrease your chances of developing endometriosis.
- About five million women in the United States have endometriosis. This makes it one of the most common health problems for women.
