Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a chronic, gynecologic disease affecting 6 to 10% of reproductive age women. Pelvic pain, dyspareunia, and infertility are the most common symptoms of endometriosis that can have a significant impact on patients’ lives. Although the etiology remains largely unknown, the role of estrogens in the development and growth of endometriosis is well characterized. Medical and surgical therapies are the two cornerstones of endometriosis management. Following diagnosis of endometriosis, treatment options will be dependent on patient preference (ie, seeking pain relief versus fertility treatment). Future research aimed at targeting altered molecular pathways in patients with endometriosis will hopefully help mitigate the burden of this debilitating disease. This review contains 5 figures, 7 tables, and 75 references. Key Words: aberrant gene expression, altered immunity, endometriosis, infertility, medical and surgical therapy, pelvic pain, retrograde menstruation, stem cells