Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a common medical condition characterized by growth beyond or outside the uterus of tissue resembling endometrium, the tissue that normally lines the uterus. Endometriosis is a disease of pain and that pain is what usually brings the patient to the health care provider. The pain may be associated with the menstrual cycle, relieved during the period or always present producing chronic debilitating discomfort and painful intercourse. Endometriosis may be associated with bowel and/or bladder symptoms or may be asymptomatic and an incidental finding during surgery.

Affecting millions women, endometriosis occurs in one in every five females of reproductive age. In endometriosis, the endometrium (from endo, "inside", and metra, "womb") is found to be growing outside the uterus, most commonly in the pelvis. The diagnosis is made during laparascopic surgery where it is usually treated by excision or destruction of the implants. Medical therapies include hormonal control, and medications that induce a menopausal state. Lastly, hysterectomy with removal of the ovaries is performed when most other therapies have failed and childbearing is completed.

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