Endometriosis is painful disorder due to growth of endometrial tissue over pelvic organs .
In endometriosis, the endometrial-like tissue acts as endometrial tissue would — it thickens, breaks down and bleeds with each menstrual cycle. But because this tissue has no way to exit your body, it becomes trapped. Surrounding tissue can become irritated,leading to adhesions .Endometriosis can cause pain — sometimes severe — especially during menstrual periods. Fertility problems also may develop. Fortunately, effective treatments are available.
.Common signs and symptoms of endometriosis include:
- Painful periods (dysmenorrhea).
- Pain with intercourse.
- Pain with bowel movements or urination.
- Excessive bleeding.
- Infertility. Sometimes, endometriosis is first diagnosed in those seeking treatment for infertility.
Endometriosis is sometimes mistaken for other conditions that can cause pelvic pain, such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) or ovarian cysts. It may be confused with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a condition that causes bouts of diarrhea, constipation and abdominal cramping. IBS can accompany endometriosis, which can complicate the diagnosis.
See your doctor if you have signs and symptoms that may indicate endometriosis.
Endometriosis can be a challenging condition to manage requiring medical treatment and sometimes surgical treatment.
Complications
Infertility
Cancer