Discover the inner workings of endometriosis
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Endometriosis
The inner workings
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For the estimated 1 in 10 women of reproductive age who have endometriosis, the pain can be debilitating and very hard to explain.
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Painful periods
Pelvic pain in between periods
Pain with sex
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If you have painful periods, pelvic pain in between periods, or pain with sex, or if you have other symptoms or conditions such as trouble getting pregnant, you could also have endometriosis.
At the center of endometriosis is the reproductive system, where the ovaries produce hormones that regulate the menstrual cycle.
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Vagina
Uterus
Fallopian tube
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Ovary
Estrogen
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The menstrual cycle
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Typically, an increase in the hormone estrogen causes the lining of the uterus to thicken each month.
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Ovary
Estrogen
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This lining is called the endometrium.
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Endometrium
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If a woman doesn’t get pregnant that month, the endometrium will break down and shed. You know this as a period.
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What is endometriosis?
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In women with endometriosis, tissue that acts a lot like endometrium can start growing outside of the uterus.
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Endometrium
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The exact cause of the disease is unknown, but most scientists think that this happens when those bits of tissue leave the uterus in the wrong direction during the period—through the fallopian tubes. And while this process occurs in many healthy women, women with endometriosis experience it differently.
There are a few things that can put a woman at a higher risk for endometriosis, like a family history of the disease, starting your period at a young age, or long or heavy periods.
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Family history
Menstruating at a young age
Long or heavy periods
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Patches of this endometrium-like tissue are called lesions or implants.
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Lesions
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They are fueled by estrogen, just like the normal endometrium, and like a vine, they can cling to certain organs nearby.
As estrogen levels rise, the lesions can grow, and later in the menstrual cycle, can break down and shed. This can cause pain and inflammation throughout the month.
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Pain and inflammation
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Some lesions can even form their own nerves—another reason there can be pelvic pain outside of the period.
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Nerves
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Over time, lesions can form scar tissue or adhesions between organs—meaning they stick together, which can cause even more pain.
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Bladder
Uterus
Bowel
Lesions
Ovary
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Depending on the locations of the lesions, every woman’s symptoms can be different, and the number or size of lesions doesn’t necessarily relate to the level of pain.
Talk to your gynecologist if you have questions about endometriosis and want to learn more—there may be treatment options available.
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You can also share this video with the women in your life. You never know who it might help!
