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Medical Specializations


Surgery => Gynecology => Endometriosis


Endometriosis


Endometriosis, a condition in which tissue from the endometrium, or lining of the uterus, implants and grows outside the uterus in the pelvic cavity. The exact cause of endometriosis is not known, but one theory is that endometrial tissue in menstrual blood travels into the fallopian tubes and pelvic cavity. The tissue forms cysts, or pockets of blood, on the pelvic organs (uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes). With time, the cysts may form scars or adhesions, which abnormally bind organs together. Resulting symptoms often include pain before, during, and after menstruation, and irregular or heavy bleeding during menstruation. Other common symptoms are pain during sexual intercourse, discomfort in the lower abdomen or urinary tract, and infertility.

Endometriosis occurs in approximately 10 percent to 15 percent of women between the ages of 25 and 40, most often in women who have never given birth. The severity of the condition varies widely: In some women, it causes no symptoms; in others it is progressive and debilitating.

To diagnose endometriosis, a doctor performs a pelvic examination and a laparoscopy, a procedure in which a thin, lighted tube is inserted into a small incision in the abdomen to allow viewing of the pelvic organs. Endometriosis may be treated with high doses of birth control pills, which change the body's hormone balance and stop the endometrial tissue from growing. Danazol, an artificial hormone, may be used to halt menstruation and ovulation, and stop tissue growth. If medications do not work, the endometrial tissue may be surgically eliminated using laparoscopy. In severe cases, a hysterectomy (removal of the uterus and ovaries) may be necessary. For most women, the symptoms of endometriosis disappear following menopause.

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