For example, it is possible for a woman in Stage I to be in tremendous pain, while a woman in Stage IV may be asymptomatic. In addition, women who receive treatment during the first two stages of the disease have the greatest chance of regaining their ability to become pregnant following treatment. The following are the most common symptoms for endometriosis, however, each individual may experience symptoms differently. It is important to note that the amount of pain a woman experiences is not necessarily related to the severity of the disease some women with severe endometriosis may experience no pain, while others with a milder form of the disease may have severe pain or other symptoms. Endometriosis rarely leads to endometrial cancer this occurs in less than one percent of women with the disease.
Endometriosis is considered one of the three major causes of female infertility.
It has been estimated that between 25 and 50 percent of all infertile women have endometriosis. In mild to moderate cases, the infertility may be just temporary with surgery to remove adhesions, cysts, and scar tissue restoring fertility. Physicians are still not clear how endometriosis affects fertility. The causes of endometriosis are still unknown, although many theories abound. Another theory states that certain families may have predisposing genetic factors to the disease.