Endometriosis Dr Rob Hicks Endometriosis is a common but painful condition affecting women.

In this article

What is it? What causes it?

What are the symptoms? What's the treatment?

Advice and support

Endometriosis is said to be present when cells that normally line the womb are found elsewhere in the body, such as the outside of the fallopian tubes, the ovaries and the bladder.

These cells behave in the same way as those lining the womb so, in response to the female hormones, they grow during the menstrual cycle and bleed during a period.

It's not known exactly what causes endometriosis, but there are a number of theories.

It may arise because of retrograde menstruation when, during a period, blood flows back towards the fallopian tubes rather than leaving the body in the usual way.

Immune dysfunction may allow endometriosis to develop in those women unable to fight off the endometriosis cells, or metaplasia (the process of one cell type changing into another) may enable endometriosis cells to appear in parts of the body where they wouldn’t normally be found.

It can also run in families.

Symptoms of endometriosis may include painful and/or heavy periods, pain during intercourse, pelvic pain, infertility and low backache. But many women with endometriosis don't get any symptoms at all and are not aware that they have it.

Around 2 million women in the UK are thought to have endometriosis. It's most common between the ages of 25 to 40. There's no proven way of preventing it, but some women find that, following pregnancy, they no longer experience any problems.

Painkillers and anti-inflammatory medication may be used to relieve symptoms. Treatment may also involve hormonal drugs that suppress ovulation and menstruation, allowing the disease to regress. This is used for women who don't wish to conceive.

For those who have completed their families and for whom non-surgical treatment has not worked, then surgery (for example hysterectomy) may be recommended.

For those wishing to become pregnant, surgical removal of the endometriosis, usually with keyhole surgery, is performed. Emotional support is very important.

Endometriosis UK
Helpline: 0808 808 2227
Website: www.endometriosis-uk.org

This article was last medically reviewed by Dr Rob Hicks in February 2008