Endometriosis is a puzzling disease affecting women in their reproductive years.
The name comes from the word endometrium , which is the tissue in that lines the inside of the uterus and builds up and sheds each month in the menstrual cycle. In endometriosis, tissue like the endometrium is found outside the uterus, and in other areas of the body. In these locations outside the uterus the endometrium tissue develops into what are called nodules, tumors, lesions, implants, or growths. These growths can cause pain, infertility, and other problems. Sometimes the growths are found in abdominal surgery scars, on the intestines, or in the rectum, and on the bladder, vagina, cervix, the vulva.