Understanding Endometriosis: Causes, Symptoms, and Management

What is it?

Endometriosis happens when tissue similar to the lining of your uterus (womb) grows outside of the uterus. It gets its name from the word endometrium, the tissue that normally lines the womb.
Most often, endometriosis is found on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and the outer surface of the uterus, and can cause pain in your lower belly, as well as trouble getting pregnant.
The cause of this disease is unknown, and it cannot be cured or prevented.

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Additional names

This group contains additional names:
- Intestinal Endometriosis
- Vaginal Endometriosis
- Endometriosis in Scar
- Ovarian Endometriosis
- Chocolate cyst of ovary
- Tubal Endometriosis
- Fallopian tube endometriosis
- Pelvic Peritoneum Endometriosis
- Broad ligament endometriosis
- Endometriosis of pelvis
- Endometriosis of round ligament

Signs & symptoms

Symptoms of endometriosis can include:
-Pain- the most common symptom. There can be different kinds of pain including very painful menstrual cramps, chronic (long-term) pain in the lower back and pelvis, pain during or after sex and painful bowel movements during menstrual periods.
-Bleeding or spotting between menstrual periods.
-Infertility, or not being able to get pregnant.
-Stomach (digestive) problems- diarrhea, constipation, bloating, or nausea, especially during menstrual periods.

Diagnosis

Your doctor will suspect endometriosis based on your symptoms and physical examination. According to this suspicion treatment can be started. A definite diagnosis can only be given during surgery, when the endometriosis tissue is clearly seen.

Treatment

Endometriosis cannot be cured, but the symptoms can be managed:
-Pain medicine – to control the pain caused by endometriosis.
-Birth control medicine- sometimes taken non-stop for several months to prevent the symptoms that appear during menstruation.
-Medication that stops the monthly period- if birth controls does not provide sufficient pain relief.
-Surgery to remove endometriosis tissue.

☝️ This is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult with your physician before making any medical decision.

Learn more about our editorial process for content accuracy.

Source of Information - We analyze big data of more than 23 million patients de-identified medical records from the following sources:

National Institution of Health ∙ World Health Organization ∙ University of Illinois hospital