Endometriosis

• Endometriosis Overview
• Endometriosis Causes
• Endometriosis Symptoms
• When to Seek Medical Care
• Exams and Tests
• Endometriosis Treatment
• Self-Care at Home
• Medical Treatment
• Medications
• Surgery
• Next Steps
• Follow-up
• Prevention
• Outlook
• For More Information
• Web Links
• Synonyms and Keywords
• Authors and Editors
• Related endometriosis articles:
  Endometriosis - on WebMD

Endometriosis - on MedicineNet

Endometriosis Overview

Endometriosis is a common disorder of the female reproductive organs and is the leading cause of chronic pelvic pain in women.

• In women who have endometriosis, tissue similar to the lining of the uterus (endometrium) is found in other areas of the body, most commonly in the pelvic area or in the abdominal cavity. The endometrial tissue may attach itself to the ovaries, the outside of the uterus, the intestines, or other abdominal organs. In very rare cases, endometriosis occurs outside the abdominal cavity, such as in the brain or lungs. Endometriosis may also develop in surgical scars following surgery on pelvic organs. The term "implant" is used to refer to a specific area of endometriosis in a certain tissue.

• It is estimated that some 5.5 million American women will experience problems with endometriosis, but an exact determination of the number of women affected is difficult, since many women may have the condition and do not have symptoms. In other cases, women may also have symptoms that could be attributed to endometriosis, but never undergo formal diagnostic studies to confirm that the condition is present. Most women who are diagnosed with endometriosis are between 25 and 35 years of age. Women may have symptoms for years before a definitive diagnosis is made.

• Endometriosis is more common in Caucasian women than in African American or Asian women. Studies have also reported that endometriosis tends to occur most commonly in taller, thin women with a low body mass index (BMI).