Endometriosis Summary Endometriosis is a problem affecting a woman’s uterus – the place where a baby grows when she’s pregnant. Endometriosis is when the kind of tissue that normally lines the uterus grows somewhere else. It can grow on the ovaries, behind the uterus or on the bowels or bladder. Rarely, it grows in other parts of the body. This "misplaced" tissue can cause pain, infertility, and very heavy periods. The pain is usually in the abdomen, lower back or pelvic areas. Some women have no symptoms at all. Having trouble getting pregnant may be the first sign. The cause of endometriosis is not known. Pain medicines and hormones often help. Severe cases may need surgery. There are also treatments to improve fertility in women with endometriosis. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Encyclopedia Abdominal exploration Diagnostic laparoscopy Pelvic laparoscopy Pelvis MRI scan Array Abdominal exploration – slideshow Endometriosis Living with endometriosis Pelvic laparoscopy – slideshow Specifics Adenomyosis Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Clinical Trials ClinicalTrials.gov: Adenomyosis National Institutes of Health ClinicalTrials.gov: Endometriosis National Institutes of Health Start Here Endometriosis American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Endometriosis Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health Endometriosis Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research What Is Endometriosis? National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Videos and Tutorials Endometriosis American Society for Reproductive Medicine Teenagers Endometriosis (For Teens) Nemours Foundation Endometriosis: A Guide for Teens Children’s Hospital Boston Treatments and Therapies Endometriosis and Infertility: Can Surgery Help? American Society for Reproductive Medicine Laparoscopy American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists What Are the Treatments for Endometriosis? National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Related Issues Endometriosis: Does It Cause Infertility? American Society for Reproductive Medicine Reference Desk Female Reproductive System National Cancer Institute Diagnosis and Tests How Do Health Care Providers Diagnose Endometriosis? National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Statistics and Research How Many People Are Affected by or at Risk for Endometriosis? National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Researchers Realize Major Breakthrough in Understanding Endometriosis National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering Seeking New Treatments for Endometriosis National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Find an Expert National Institute of Child Health and Human Development National Institute of Child Health and Human Development womenshealth.gov Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health Journal Articles Endometriosis Symptoms What Are the Symptoms of Endometriosis? National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Latest News Endometriosis Linked to Heart Disease in Study HealthDay
