{"paper_id":"ff348ea1-b2ce-4460-91ed-f09d8ca65c4f","body_text":"Definition\nEndometriosis (EM) is a common, benign disorder defined by the presence of endometrial tissue outside of the uterus (Giudice, 2010). EM can be asymptomatic, but it may be associated with severe dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation or “cramps”), pelvic pain (intermittent non-menstrual or continuous pain in the pelvic area), dyspareunia (pain during sexual intercourse), and infertility in affected women. The prevalence of pelvic EM is 6–10% in the general population whereas it approaches 35–50% in women with pain, infertility, or both (Houston, 1984; Sensky & Liu, 1980). The etiology of the disease appears to involve a complex interplay of multiple genetic, environmental, immunologic, and potential psychological factors (Guo, 2009); however, the ultimate pathogenesis of EM is unknown to date. Surgical assessment, by laparoscopy or laparotomy, remains the diagnostic gold standard in order to diagnose EM. The extent of the disease is classified by the American Society for...\nAccess this chapter\nTax calculation will be finalised at checkout\nPurchases are for personal use only\nReferences and Readings\nAmerican Society for Reproductive Medicine. (1997). Revised American Society for Reproductive Medicine classification of endometriosis: 1996. Fertility and Sterility, 67(5), 817–821.\nAsante, A., & Taylor, R. N. (2011). Endometriosis: The role of neuroangiogenesis. Annual Review of Physiology, 73, 163–182.\nGiudice, L. C. (2010). Clinical practice: Endometriosis. The New England Journal of Medicine, 362(25), 2389–2398.\nGiudice, L. C., & Kao, L. C. (2004). Endometriosis. The Lancet, 364(9447), 1789–1799.\nGuo, S. W. (2009). Epigenetics of endometriosis. Molecular Human Reproduction, 15(10), 587–607.\nHouston, D. E. (1984). Evidence for the risk of pelvic endometriosis by age, race and socioeconomic status. Epidemiologic Reviews, 6, 167–191.\nKaatz, J., Solari-Twadell, P. A., Cameron, J., & Schultz, R. (2010). Coping with endometriosis. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing, 39(2), 220–225. Quiz 225–226.\nPractice Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. (2004). Endometriosis and infertility. Fertility and Sterility, 82(Suppl. 1), S40–S45.\nSensky, T. E., & Liu, D. T. (1980). Endometriosis: associations with menorrhagia, infertility and oral contraceptives. International Journal of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, 17(6), 573–576.\nSinaii, N., Cleary, S. D., Ballweg, M. L., Nieman, L. K., & Stratton, P. (2002). High rates of autoimmune and endocrine disorders, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome and atopic diseases among women with endometriosis: a survey analysis. Human Reproduction (Oxford, England), 17(10), 2715–2724.\nAuthor information\nAuthors and Affiliations\nCorresponding author\nEditor information\nEditors and Affiliations\nRights and permissions\nCopyright information\n© 2013 Springer Science+Business Media, New York\nAbout this entry\nCite this entry\nDitzen, B., Wieser, F., Taylor, R.N. (2013). Endometriosis. In: Gellman, M.D., Turner, J.R. (eds) Encyclopedia of Behavioral Medicine. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1005-9_14\nDownload citation\nDOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1005-9_14\nPublisher Name: Springer, New York, NY\nPrint ISBN: 978-1-4419-1004-2\nOnline ISBN: 978-1-4419-1005-9\neBook Packages: MedicineReference Module Medicine","source_license":"CC0","license_restricted":false}