Endometriosis (pronounced end - oh - mee - tree - oh - sis) is the name given to the condition where cells like the ones in the lining of the womb (uterus) are found elsewhere in the body. Endometriosis is not an infection nor is it contagious. During a womans monthly cycle their hormones stimulate the endometriosis, causing it to grow, then break down and bleed. This internal bleeding, unlike a period, has no way of leaving the body. This leads to inflammation, pain, and the formation of scar tissue (adhesions). Endometrial tissue can also be found in the ovary, where it can form cysts, called 'chocolate cysts' because of their appearance.

Endometriosis affects approximately 2 million women in the UK. It can be a chronic and debilitating condition. Endometriosis can impact on a woman's life in a number of ways which include:

Chronic pain
Fatigue/lack of energy
Depression/isolation
Problems with a couple's sex life/relationships
An inability to conceive
Difficulty in fulfilling work and social commitments.
What are the symptoms?

Common symptoms include, painful, heavy, or irregular periods and bleeding; pain during or after sex; infertility; problems on opening bowels; chronic bladder pain, 'black' blood at the begining of the period; fatigue; back and or leg pain. Endometriosis is often refered to by doctors as the 'disease of symptom's.

How is endometriosis diagnosed?

The only way to diagnose endometriosis is through a procedure called a laparoscopy and done under general anaesthetic. Because it is so hard to diagnosis the average time between a patient first consulting the doctor with the symptoms and then receiving the diagnosis is currently 8 years!

What causes endometriosis?

The actual cause of endometriosis is unknown. There are several theories, but none fully explains why the condition occurs.