Diagnosing and Treating Endometriosis

If you've been having painful periods, possibly with pelvic pain that continues even after your period ends, you should talk to your health care provider about evaluating you for endometriosis.

Endometriosis is a chronic, gynecological condition in which the uterine lining, called the endometrium, grows outside the uterus. This uterine tissue typically remains within the pelvic cavity but has been known to appear in the abdomen, such as in the ovaries, bowels or fallopian tubes, or, more rarely, in the lungs, skin and other regions of the body.

The problem with this "traveling" tissue is that it still responds to monthly hormonal signals to grow and shed. Unlike tissue lining the uterus, however, endometrial tissue elsewhere in your body can't leave your body, so it bleeds wherever it is. Your body interprets this bleeding as an attack. White blood cells swoop in to protect you and repair the damage, causing inflammation. This inflammation is not only painful but can lead to painful scar tissue called adhesions. Some studies suggest this misplaced endometrial tissue may develop its own nerve supply to communicate with the brain, another reason behind the severe pain of endometriosis.