Endometriosis

Many people have heard about endometriosis but not a lot is understood about the condition. Endometriosis is a condition where endometrium, tissue that lines the uterus, grows outside the uterus. This tissue can grow around the ovaries, fallopian tubes, bowels, and bladder. When this occurs, the surrounding tissue becomes inflamed, swollen and irritated which causes scarring. The resulting lesions impede the function of the organs that they surround. The inflammation and tissue damage can lead to bleeding and painful discomfort. There is much debate over the exact cause of endometriosis and how to best treat the condition. It is also hard to determine the incidence or prevalence in a population because of limited means of diagnosing. This can lead to misdiagnosis and patients unnecessarily living with pain related to untreated endometriosis. Research continues to be as important as ever and healthcare professionals will need to stay up to date on current findings.