2. What is Endometriosis?
Endometriosis is a female
health disorder that occurs
when cells from the lining of
the womb (uterus) grow in
other areas of the body.
3. What are the symptoms?
Most women who
have endometriosis,
in fact, do not have
symptoms. Of those
who do experience
symptoms, the
common symptoms
are pain (usually
pelvic) and infertility.
4. What causes Endometriosis?
The cause of endometriosis is unknown. One
theory is that the endometrial tissue is
deposited in unusual locations by the
backing up of menstrual flow into the
Fallopian tubes and the pelvic and abdominal
cavity during menstruation.
5. What are the treatments?
Since endometriosis occurs during the
reproductive years, many of the available
medical treatments for endometriosis rely on
interruption of the normal cyclical hormone
production by the ovaries. These medications
include GnRH analogs, oral contraceptive pills,
and progestin.
6. What are the statistics?
At least 5.5 million women in North
America alone have endometriosis
About 30 percent to 40 percent of
women with endometriosis are
infertile, making it one of the top
three causes for female infertility.
