It is estimated that endometriosis affects between 10 and 15 percent of all women of reproductive age. It occurs when tissue similar to the tissue that lines the uterus (endometrium) grows in other areas of a woman's body. Although it is abnormal for endometrial tissue to grow outside of the uterus, endometriosis is not a form of cancer.
Endometriosis can occur at any time after puberty. It is most commonly diagnosed in a woman's twenties or early thirties although it can develop at any stage during a woman's reproductive years. A woman can even experience endometriosis after menopause, although this is less common.
Although it is possible to have endometriosis without symptoms, the condition often causes painful periods and other pain symptoms. Endometriosis may be associated with chronic pelvic pain and the inability to get pregnant.
Symptoms of endometriosis include:
- painful periods
- painful sex
- painful bowel movements
- irritability
- depression
- fatigue
- heavy or irregular bleeding
- nausea/dizziness
- diarrhea/constipation
The cause of endometriosis is not known. There are however several theories. The leading theory, at present, links endometriosis to a problem with the immune system. A weakness in the immune system may allow endometrial tissue to take root and grow outside the uterus in women with endometriosis.
Endometriosis is treated in several ways. Because each woman is different, treatment often takes an individualized approach. Treatment may involve different combinations of medication, surgery, alternative approaches and/or lifestyle changes depending on what the treating healthcare professional recommends. There are different medications that are being used. One of the most effective ways to treat endometriosis is through a surgical procedure called operative laparoscopy. This surgery is most effective in removing all the endometrial tissue when performed by a skilled surgeon with expertise in endometriosis surgery.
The name endometriosis comes from the word endometrium. The endometrium is the tissue that lines the inside of the uterus. This tissue builds up every month and sheds during a woman's menstrual period.
Sometimes tissue that is like endometrial tissue shows up outside of the uterus in other places in the body and starts to grow. This is endometriosis. Clumps of endometrial tissue growing outside the uterus may be called nodules, lesions, implants, or growths. Growth of endometrial tissue may also cause scarring.
The most common locations for endometrial growth are in the:
- cul-de-sac, or pouch between the uterus and rectum
- uterosacral ligaments, or ligaments that attach the uterus and cervix to the base of the spine
- ovaries (egg producing glands
- the surface of the uterus
- bowel
- rectum
- bladder
- peritoneum (lining of the abdominal cavity)
Endometriosis is a fairly common disorder that affects women during their reproductive years. Between 10 and 20 percent of women in North America are believed to be affected by endometriosis. It can develop anytime from a girl's first period until she reaches menopause. However, most women experience symptoms during the middle of their reproductive years, in their mid 20s to early 30s.
The Impact of Endometriosis
People often say that endometriosis is a puzzle. It is puzzling because it is unpredictable. No one really knows for sure what causes it, how it is cured, and why some women suffer from it and others don't. It is a chronic illness, which means that once it starts, it usually won't stop on its own. Most of the time, when a woman reaches menopause, the endometriosis will go away, though this is not always the case. Even having a total abdominal hysterectomy with both ovaries removed may not cure endometriosis in a small number of women.