Endo
Facts.
Endometriosis is a systemic, chronic disease where tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus. It’s a leading cause of infertility and chronic pelvic pain.
What is endometriosis?
Endometriosis happens when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows where it doesn’t belong. Every month, this tissue follows your cycle—thickening and bleeding—but because it’s trapped outside the uterus, that blood has no exit strategy. This causes internal chaos: chronic inflammation, severe pain, and scar tissue (adhesions) that can literally fuse your organs together.
Wait, it can be anywhere? Yes. Even though endometriosis is usually found in the pelvic cavity, endo is systemic. It can attach to the ovaries, fallopian tubes, bowel, bladder, and appendix—and in rarer cases, the lungs, diaphragm, or even the brain.
You should also know about adenomyosis. It’s a condition where actual endometrial tissue grows into the muscular wall of the uterus (myometrium). This makes the uterus thicken and enlarge, which often leads to heavy bleeding and intense pelvic pressure.
| Stage | Description |
|---|---|
| I | Minimal: A few superficial implants. |
| II | Mild: Deeper implants and more of them. |
| III | Moderate: Many deep implants and small cysts. |
| IV | Severe: Many deep implants, large cysts, and dense adhesions. |
Common Symptoms
- Dysmenorrhea: Intense period pain.
- Dyspareunia: Pain during or after sex.
- Dyschezia: Painful bowel movements or urination.
- Fatigue: Bone-deep exhaustion.
- Neuropathy: Leg pain or nerve issues.
Diagnosis & Treatment
The gold standard for diagnosis is a diagnostic laparoscopy with pathology confirmation.
The gold standard for treatment is minimally invasive laparoscopic excision surgery, which removes the entire lesion from the root.
Note: This page is a high-level overview. For deep-dives, please explore the rest of DO YOU ENDO.