Endometriosis

What is Endometriosis?

Endometriosis is a condition that occurs when tissue that is similar to the lining of the uterus (endometrium) implants outside of the uterus.

What does it look like?

Endometriosis can take the form of:

Lesions (endometriosis implants)
Cysts (endometriomas)
Other growths (adhesions, etc.).

Where can it be located?

These patches of abnormal tissue can be found within the pelvic cavity over the uterus, ovaries, bladder, and bowels. In rare cases, these growths have been found in other locations, such as near the lungs.

Endometriosis affects 1 in 10 individuals with a uterus

Endometriosis and Your Menstrual Cycle

The uterus is composed of several layers of specialized tissue. There is a muscular layer called the myometrium and an inner layer that lines the inside of the uterus called the endometrium.

Each month, hormones produced by the body cause the endometrium to grow and create an environment for a fertilized egg to grow into a baby. If there is no pregnancy, then the endometrial lining is shed through the cervix and vaginal canal. This is a monthly occurrence referred to as a period or a menstrual cycle.

The lesions, cysts, and other growths in endometriosis respond the same way to the body’s hormones as the endometrium. With each menstrual cycle, the endometriosis lesions grow, and the tissue is shed. The growth and shedding of this tissue outside of the uterus can cause pain, internal scarring, the formation of adhesions (bands of scar tissue that can connect organs incorrectly), difficulty with getting pregnant, and other medical complications.

The causes of endometriosis are currently unknown, but research has developed several theories. To read more about these theories, click the button.

Learn more

Watch this video for an overview of endometriosis and treatment pathways.

Endometriosis is known to run in families, although a gene that causes endometriosis has not been found. A first-degree relative (sibling or child) of the individual with endometriosis is seven times more likely to have the condition than someone who does not have a first-degree relative with the condition.

How do we classify Endometriosis?

Why classify?

Deciding on a classification system for endometriosis is important for standardizing communication between healthcare professionals and scientists. Better communication will improve the treatments for patients and the research that goes into developing those treatments.

Most Common Classification System

As endometriosis presents differently for each patient, it is very difficult to classify endometriosis. One of the best-known classification systems was designed by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM).

ASRM Classification System

Top-down view of the uterus.

A higher score on the ASRM Classification system is not always related to the level of pain experienced by the individual, the presence of other symptoms, or your chances of getting pregnant.

The classification system has a point system to score the endometriotic growths. A score of 15 or less means the growths are minimal or mild, while a score of 16 or higher means that the growths are moderate or severe.

Stage 1 - Minimal (1 - 5 points)