• What is Endometriosis?
• Our Approach
• Symptoms & Causes
• Endometriosis Treatment
• Endometriosis FAQs

What is Endometriosis?

Endometriosis gets its name from the word endometrium, the tissue that lines the uterus (womb). Tissue that looks and acts like the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus in other areas. These patches of endometriosis can be called growths, implants, lesions, or nodules.

Endometriosis is divided into four stages, stage 1 (least severe) to stage 4 (most severe).

Most endometriosis is found:

• on or under the ovaries
• behind the uterus
• on the tissues that hold the uterus in place
• on the bowels or bladder

Why does endometriosis cause pain
and health problems?

Every month, hormones cause the lining of the uterus to build up with tissue and blood vessels. If pregnancy does not occur, there uterus sheds this tissue and blood through the vagina as the menstrual period.

Patches of endometriosis also respond to the hormones that control a woman's monthly cycle, building up and breaking down just like the lining of the uterus. However, this internal bleeding has no way of leaving the body and as a consequence the trapped blood and tiisue can lead to inflammation, abdominal and pelvic pain, infertility, painful periods, and the development of scar tissue (adhesions).

Adhesions

Scar tissue can lead to the formation of adhesions or fibrous bands between pelvic organs which reduce the mobility of organs and cause stretching and pain. This can lead to infertility and bowel obstruction. Adhesions are often present in women with endometriosis.

Adhesions are part of the normal wound-healing process and do not always lead to problems, but when they do cause difficulties, these can be widespread and severe.

Cysts

Endometriosis can develop from within, cover or grow into the ovaries and become cysts which are called endometriomas. These endometriomas can cause pressure and adhesions on the adjacent fallopian tubes as well as interfering with the normal ovulation process of the ovaries; this can result in pain and infertility.