Endometriosis << `ehn` doh `mee` tree OH sihs >> is a disease of the female reproductive system. In endometriosis, clusters of cells from the lining of the uterus grow and function outside the uterus. The areas that are most often affected are the ovaries and the walls of the pelvic and abdominal cavities. Endometriosis is most frequently diagnosed in women 20 through 40 years of age who have never been pregnant and who have experienced severe menstrual pain, infertility, or both. It can also occur in younger women.
The exact cause of endometriosis is unknown. Many scientists believe that a number of factors contribute to the condition. Most physicians believe endometriosis develops when some menstrual blood from the uterus flows backward into the pelvic and abdominal cavities each month. Physicians call this occurrence retrograde menstruation. This blood contains a cluster of uterine cells. The clusters can attach to the organs, ligaments, or walls of the cavities. These endometrial clusters are stimulated to grow by estrogen, the hormone that stimulates the monthly growth of the uterine lining (see Estrogen).
Many women experience retrograde menstruation, but only some develop endometriosis. Scientists think that endometriosis occurs in some women because of changes in the immune system. Genetic (hereditary) factors may also play a part in the development of the disease.
Endometriosis may produce such symptoms as bladder irritation, pain during intercourse, and severe cramps during menstruation. The disease can also damage the ovaries and other reproductive organs, resulting in infertility (see Infertility).
Mild endometriosis may require no treatment. Physicians can treat some patients with hormones, which may relieve some of the disease’s symptoms. More severe cases of endometriosis require surgery. In women who want to have children, the surgery is limited to removal of the endometrial clusters. In women who do not want to become pregnant or who are past childbearing age, the reproductive organs and all endometrial clusters may be removed.
