What is endometriosis?
Endometriosis is a painful condition that causes the tissue lining the uterus to grow outside of the uterus. This condition can also involve the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and tissue lining the pelvis. The endometrium tissue acts as it normally would with each menstrual cycle (thickening, breaking down, and bleeding), but growth outside the uterus has no way to exit the body.

What are the symptoms of endometriosis?
Symptoms of endometriosis include:

Painful periods
Pain during intercourse
Pelvic pain
Heavy periods
Fertility issues

What causes endometriosis?
Some theories for the cause of endometriosis include retrograde menstruation and surgical scar implantation. Retrograde menstruation occurs when menstrual blood flows back through the fallopian tubes, sticking to the pelvic wall and growing into these areas. Also known as "induction theory," transformation of peritoneal cells is a theory proposing that the normal cells lining the abdominal wall transform into endometrial cells due to hormonal or immune factors. Experts have found that surgical scar implantation may occur following a C section or hysterectomy, causing endometrial cells to attach to the surgical incision. These are only a few of the many theories that have been proposed regarding the cause of endometriosis, but the cause is still not entirely known.

How do you treat endometriosis?
Treatment for endometriosis varies depending on the severity of symptoms and the patient's age. Hysterectomy or removal of the uterus was once considered the most effective treatment. However, doctors are beginning to shy away from this intervention. The first line of treatment typically involves pain management and sometimes hormonal therapy. Conservative surgery to remove the endometrial tissue while preserving the uterus and ovaries can help minimize the symptoms of endometriosis while still maintaining the patient's ability to conceive. Because endometriosis can cause fertility issues, fertility treatments are common as well. Before deciding on treatment for endometriosis, it is important to get multiple opinions and find a doctor with whom you feel comfortable.

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