This week is National Endometriosis Awareness Week, run by the National Endometriosis Society.
Endometriosis occurs when tissue normally found in the womb lining is found outside the womb.
The most common sites for endometriosis are the ovaries, the fallopian tubes, the ligaments supporting the uterus, the internal area between the vagina and rectum, the outer surface of the uterus, and the lining of the pelvic cavity. Occasionally, endometrial growths are found on the intestines, bladder, cervix or vulva, in the rectum or in abdominal surgery scars. Very rarely, growths have been found outside the abdomen, in the thigh, arm or lung. Normally, if a woman is not pregnant, endometrial tissue builds up inside the uterus and is shed each month during her period. Endometrial tissue outside the uterus responds to the menstrual cycle in a similar way.