Endometriosis is most commonly found in the fallopian tubes, the ovaries, the bladder, the bowl, the intestines, the vagina and the rectum.  More Science...

Reproductive specialists divide patients into one of four levels based upon what is seen at the time of their surgery:

• Stage I: This is the lowest severity of endometriosis and is also referred to as minimal. It involves the presence of a few lesions or even microscopic presence noted on a biopsy specimen.
• Stage II: Mild endometriosis is a more obvious disease with obvious implants of endometrium on anatomic structure but no distortion of the anatomy and minimal scarring.
• Stage III: Referred to as moderate endometriosis, Stage III indicates a more extensive problem but without complete obstruction of fallopian tubes. Additionally, women with moderate endometriosis are more likely to have implants upon the ovary and sometimes even within it as well.
• Stage IV: Severe endometriosis can be a devastating illness and is often associated with complete hysterectomy and removal of the ovaries to relieve symptoms. The extent of scarring obstructs one or both tubes.  More Science...

Endometrial cells found in other parts of the body respond to the body's hormones in the same way as the cells in the womb lining. This means that every month the cells go through the menstrual cycle of thickening and bleeding.  However, because they have no way of leaving the body – the endometrial tissue is essentially ‘trapped’ which leads to pain, swelling and bleeding wherever the tissue is. More Science...

Endometriosis impacts on fertility in a number of ways.

1) Endometriosis can impede the progress of the egg and sperm through the fallopian tubres.

2) Toxins can impair fertilisation of the egg.

3) Endometriosis can affect the immune system, causing the mother's overactive immune system to attack the embryo and sperm.

4) Endometriosis appears to reduce the chances of an egg successfully implanting in the uterus.  More Science...

The most effective way to diagnose endometriosis is through an internal examination called a laparascopy.  The patient will be placed under general anaesthetic and a small viewing tube called a larascope will be passed into their body. This will enable the specialist to view the endometrial tissue and take a small sample (a biopsy) for testing.   More Science...

Whilst there is currently no cure for endometriosis, treatment options are designed to manage symptoms and include pain medication, hormone treatment or surgery. More Science...

Surgery can sometimes be used to remove the endometrial tissue, which in turn can help reduce the symptoms.  This type of surgery will depend on where the tissue is - and the endometrial tissue will return over time.

Many doctors feel that for a woman who has Endometriosis, the best chances of pregnancy occur during the six to nine months period following treatment with a laparoscopy procedure.  More Science...

Endometriosis cells contain local hormones responsible for several processes, including ovulation, contraction of the uterus and immune interaction.  However, these local hormones seem to be out of phase with their release by the uterus, disrupting the normal menstrual cycle and possibly leading to early miscarriage.

Additionally, More than half of women with endometriosis (regardless of its severity) have a reduced chance of proper inplantation due to immunologic implantation dysfunction.  More Science...

In vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures are effective in improving fertility for some women with endometriosis.  IVF makes it possible to combine sperm and eggs in a laboratory and then place the resulting embryos into the woman’s uterus.  This helps to bypass toxins in the peritoneal fluid can impair fertilisation of the egg. More Science...

A natural anti-inflammatory, evening primrose oil can help reduce the pain of endometriosis, and is especially helpful with cramping.

There is some anecdotal evidence that long term use may actually aggravate endometriosis.  This has not been proven scientifically.  Current studies suggest Evening Primrose Oil is safe long-term.

Caution : Do not take Evening Primrose Oil after ovulation because if are pregnant, it can cause mild uterine contractions and prevent implantation.  More Science...

The most common symptom of endometriosis is pain and discomfort in the area where the tissue has located itself as it thickens and bleeds.   More Science...

The pain typically begins a few days before the period and usually lasts the whole of the period. It is different to normal period pain which is usually not as severe, and doesn't last as long.  More Science...

Pelvic pain is one of the most common symptoms of Endometriosis.  Sometimes the pain is constant, but is usually worse on the days just before and during a period.  The pelvic pain can be excruciating and debilitating for many women. It may be experienced constantly, it may be intermittent or it may be related solely to the menstrual period. Pain can be provoked by certain activities such as walking, standing too long etc., or it may occur unpredictably.  More Science...

The pain is typically felt deep inside and may be felt during intercourse as well as up to 48 hours after sexual activity. It is often associated with endometriosis in the pouch of Douglas or adhesions in the pelvic cavity.   More Science...

Endometriosis does not itself cause the uterus to bleed abnormally.  However, it does create problems, which can, in turn, lead to abnormal bleeding.  Some reasons for the bleeding can be :

* Ovarian endometriomas (chocolate cysts) can get large enough to put so much pressure on the rest of the ovary that it is not able to respond to stimulation, or is not able to complete the ovulation process. This then leads to abnormal hormone production and possible bleeding abnormalities.

* Ovaries can become encased by adhesions due to endometriosis. The endo irritates the tissues it's on, and the adhesion forms as the body attempts to wall off the offending area. When the ovary is entrapped this way, cysts can form and abnormal hormone production can result.  More Science...

Most bowel symptoms are not due to the presence of endometriosis on the surface of the bowel itself. Rather, they are usually due to irritation from implants (endometriosis cells) and nodules located in adjacent areas, such as the Pouch of Douglas, uterosacral ligaments, and rectovaginal septum.

In those cases where the endometrial implants are located on the bowel, the implants are usually lying on the outside surface of the bowel or rectum rather than in the bowel itself. Nevertheless, endometriosis can penetrate into and through the bowel wall on some occasions. The large bowel is a much more common site of endometriosis than the small bowel.

Some bowel symptoms are due to adhesions constricting, twisting, or pulling on the bowel. More Science...

Abdominal bloating may be a sign of endometriosis. It is thought to be due to inflammation in the pelvic cavity caused by the endometriosis.  Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) can cause pelvic pain, and can also cause severe abdominal bloating. With IBS, the bloating is usually caused by intestinal gasses which expand and distend the abdomen and can cause severe pain and discomfort.  IBS is very common in women with Endometriosis. More Science...

Fatigue and Endometriosis seem to go hand in hand.  It is not known what causes the acute fatigue women suffer with Endometriosis, and is not often recognized as a symptom of Endometriosis.  However, fatigue can be one of the most debilitating aspects of the disease, and most women with endometriosis experience fatigue around the time of their period and some experience it throughout the month. The fatigue may be related to the constant pain and/or medication, or it could be the bodies reaction to the disease at a deeper level.  More Science...

Lower back pain is another common but poorly recognized symptom that often accompanies period pain. It is commonly associated with endometriosis in the pouch of Douglas, uterosacral ligaments, and rectovaginal septum.  More Science...

This is an uncommon symptom of endometriosis.  The urinary tract symptoms of Endometriosis are usually the result of endometriosis lying on the outside of the bladder or irritation from endometrial implants lying on the front of the uterus.  More Science...

This is an uncommon symptom of endometriosis.  The bowel symptoms of endometriosis are often overlooked or dismissed because many people think endometriosis affects only the reproductive organs. Many bowel symptoms are caused by irritation to the bowel from endometrial implants lying on adjacent areas such as the Pouch of Douglas and the back of the uterus, but some are due to endometrial deposits lying on the outside of the bowel wall.

The gastrointestinal disorder which is most common with Endometriosis is Irritable Bowel Syndrome which can cause many of the bowel symptoms mentioned above. Candida has also been found to be prevalent in women with Endometriosis, and this too can cause many distressing digestive upsets and discomfort.  More Science...

This is when some of the womb lining (the endometrium) flows backwards through the fallopian tubes into the abdomen, instead of leaving the body like usual menstrual blood. It is believed that retrograde menstruation happens to most women but that they are able to clear the tissue naturally without it becoming a problem. However, in some women the tissue embeds itself and grows, becoming endometriosis.   More Science...

Endometriosis is sometimes believed to be hereditary, if your mother suffered from endometriosis it is more likely that you will develop the condition. More Science...

It is believed that some women are less able to effectively fight off endometriosis. Many women with the condition have been noted as having lower immunity to other conditions. More Science...

Researchers believe that endometriosis cells can get into the blood stream. This would explain how, in very rare cases, endometriosis cells are found in remote places such as the eyes or brain.  More Science...

This is when one type of cell changes into another, the process that allows the human body to grow in the womb before birth. Some researchers believe that endometriosis could develop when the baby’s womb is first forming, or that the womb can retain the ability to transform cells.  More Science...