Do we know what causes endometriosis?

Edometriosis is one of the most intensively investigated benign gynaecological disorders, but our \nunderstanding of its causation remains \nsurprisingly incomplete. Several theories \nexist: coelomic metaplasia, induction, retrograde menstruation and implantation, \nMüllerian remnants and the archimetra \nconcept. These hypotheses show various \nextents of plausibility and supporting scientific data. \nWhile the theory of retrograde menstruation and implantation is the most widely \naccepted, no single concept explains all \nforms and appearances of endometriosis. \nIndeed, the wide variety in incidence and \nprogression of the disease seem to defy an \nexplanation by a single mechanism which \nmay indicate that endometriosis is a heterogenous disease. In addition, there is \nconsiderable overlap between most of the \nproposed theories