{"id":11556,"date":"2021-02-09T12:10:38","date_gmt":"2021-02-09T18:10:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/naturalwomanhood.org\/topics\/endometriosis\/"},"modified":"2026-04-01T09:41:59","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T14:41:59","slug":"endometriosis","status":"publish","type":"topics","link":"https:\/\/naturalwomanhood.org\/es\/topic\/endometriosis\/","title":{"rendered":"Endometriosis"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Endometriosis affects approximately 89 million women<\/a> worldwide. It affects all ages and races, and is one of the leading causes of female infertility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pain from endometriosis (often referred to as simply “endo”) causes girls and women to miss school and work\u2014or perhaps worse\u2014to endure both while in excruciating pain. For as common as it is, very little is known about this disorder. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is endometriosis?<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Endometriosis is a disorder where tissue similar to that which lines the uterus (called the endometrium) grows outside of the uterus. This tissue typically grows on other organs in the pelvic area, such as the ovaries and fallopian tubes. Just like the endometrium, <\/span>this tissue also breaks down and bleeds during menstruation<\/span><\/a>, but because it has no way to exit the body, it stays in the pelvic area. The trapped blood and tissue eventually forms scar tissue and adhesions, bands of tissue that grow between pelvic organs and cause them to stick together.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are the symptoms of endometriosis?<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The most common symptom of endo is pain. Endometriosis is associated with especially severe pain during periods that is much worse than typical menstrual cramps. Pain with sex is also reported. Oddly enough, the level of pain someone experiences is not a good gauge of how advanced the disease is. Some women may have very little scarring, and an inordinate amount of pain; others may have very extensive scarring, yet little to no pain. Laparoscopic surgery is necessary to make a formal diagnosis.   <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n