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Summary
What is endometriosis?
The uterus, or womb, is the place where a baby grows when a woman is pregnant. It is lined with tissue (endometrium). Endometriosis is a disease in which tissue that is similar to the lining of the uterus grows in other places in your body. These patches of tissue are called "implants," "nodules," or "lesions." They are most often found
- On or under the ovaries
- On the fallopian tubes, which carry egg cells from the ovaries to the uterus
- Behind the uterus
- On the tissues that hold the uterus in place
- On the bowels or bladder
In rare cases, the tissue may grow on your lungs or in other parts of your body.
What causes endometriosis?
The cause of endometriosis is unknown.
Who is at risk for endometriosis?
Endometriosis is most commonly diagnosed in women in their 30s and 40s. But it can affect any female who menstruates. Certain factors can raise or lower your risk of getting it.
You are at higher risk if
- You have a mother, sister, or daughter with endometriosis
- Your period started before age 11
- Your monthly cycles are short (less than 27 days)
- Your menstrual cycles are heavy and last more than 7 days
You have a lower risk if
- You have been pregnant before
- Your periods started late in adolescence
- You regularly exercise more than 4 hours a week
- You have a low amount of body fat
What are the symptoms of endometriosis?
The main symptoms of endometriosis are
- Pelvic pain, which affects about 75 percent of women with endometriosis. It often happens during your period.
- Infertility, which affects up to half of all women with endometriosis
Other possible symptoms include
- Painful menstrual cramps, which may get worse over time
- Pain during or after sex
- Pain in the intestine or lower abdomen
- Pain with bowel movements or urination, usually during your period
- Heavy periods
- Spotting or bleeding between periods
- Digestive or gastrointestinal symptoms
- Fatigue or lack of energy
How is endometriosis diagnosed?
Surgery is the only way to know for sure that you have endometriosis. First, however, your health care provider will ask about your symptoms and medical history. You will have a pelvic exam and may have some imaging tests.
The surgery to diagnose endometriosis is a laparoscopy. This is a type of surgery that uses a laparoscope, a thin tube with a camera and light. The surgeon inserts the laparoscope through a small cut in the skin. Your provider can make a diagnosis based on how the patches of endometriosis look. He or she may also do a biopsy to get a tissue sample.
What are the treatments for endometriosis?
There is no cure for endometriosis, but there are treatments for the symptoms. Your health care provider will work with you to decide which treatments would be best for you.
Treatments for endometriosis pain include
- Pain relievers, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) such as ibuprofen and a prescription medicine specifically for endometriosis. Providers may sometimes prescribe opioids for severe pain.
- Hormone therapy, including birth control pills, progestin therapy, and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists. GnRH agonists cause a temporary menopause, but also help control the growth of endometriosis.
- Surgical treatments for severe pain, including procedures to remove the endometriosis patches or cut some nerves in the pelvis. The surgery may be a laparoscopy or major surgery. The pain may come back within a few years after surgery. If the pain is very severe, a hysterectomy may be an option. This is a surgery to remove the uterus. Sometimes providers also remove the ovaries and fallopian tubes as part of a hysterectomy.
Treatments for infertility caused by endometriosis include
- Laparoscopy to remove the endometriosis patches
- In vitro fertilization
NIH: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Symptoms
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What Are the Symptoms of Endometriosis?
(National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) Also in Spanish
Diagnosis and Tests
- Abdominal exploration - slideshow (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
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How Do Health Care Providers Diagnose Endometriosis?
(National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) Also in Spanish
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Laparoscopy
(National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
- Pelvic laparoscopy - slideshow (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Treatments and Therapies
- Endometriosis and Infertility: Can Surgery Help? (American Society for Reproductive Medicine) - PDF Also in Spanish
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What Are the Treatments for Endometriosis?
(National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) Also in Spanish
Related Issues
- Endometriosis: Does It Cause Infertility? (American Society for Reproductive Medicine) - PDF Also in Spanish
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Period Problems: Fibroids, Endometriosis, and Other Issues
(National Institutes of Health) Also in Spanish
Specifics
- Adenomyosis (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
Videos and Tutorials
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Endometriosis
(American Society for Reproductive Medicine)
Statistics and Research
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How Many People Are Affected by or at Risk for Endometriosis?
(National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) Also in Spanish
Clinical Trials
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Adenomyosis
(National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Endometriosis
(National Institutes of Health)
Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: The levels of follicular fluid cell-free mitochondrial DNA could serve as...
- Article: Laparoscopic anterior resection of rectum for rectal deeply infiltrating endometriosis: A...
- Article: Robotic Surgery for Urologic Deep Infiltrating Endometriosis: A Review and Case...
- Endometriosis -- see more articles
Reference Desk
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Female Reproductive System
(National Cancer Institute)
Find an Expert
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Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
(National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) Also in Spanish
- womenshealth.gov (Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health) Also in Spanish
Teenagers
- Endometriosis (For Teens) (Nemours Foundation)
- Endometriosis: A Guide for Teens (Children's Hospital Boston)
Patient Handouts
- Endometriosis (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Living with endometriosis (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish