Endometriosis is a medical condition that causes the cells of the endometrium, or lining of the uterus, to spread and grow in other parts of the body such as the bowel, ovaries and bladder. This disorder typically causes pelvic pain, and there can be a link between endometriosis and ovulation in some cases because the pain from endometriosis can be more intense during ovulation. The connection between endometriosis and ovulation is usually stronger in cases where endometrial tissue has spread to a woman’s ovaries. Other symptoms may also occur with endometriosis, and their severity may vary from woman to woman.
Women experiencing endometriosis and ovulation may also experience pain in the lower back, lower belly or vagina as well as the rectum. Endometriosis and ovulation difficulties can contribute to infertility in some women. Bleeding symptoms can also occur in women with endometriosis such as heavy menstrual bleeding or blood in urine or stools, as well as bleeding after sex or bleeding between periods. In some instances, a woman may not discover that she has this condition until she sees a doctor for another problem, such as a difficulty in getting pregnant.
The causes of endometriosis are not generally clear, but high levels of the female hormone estrogen can increase the development and symptoms of this medical disorder. In many cases, women who begin menstruation at an early age typically have an increased chance of developing this disorder. Women with menstrual periods lasting seven or more days and women who have not had children may also be at a greater risk of developing endometriosis. Most women with this medical condition tend to be diagnosed between the ages of 25 and 35.
Physicians may use medical tests such as a pelvic examination, pelvic laparoscopy or transvaginal ultrasound to help diagnose endometriosis as well as monitor the condition. Doctors treat this condition with one or more methods, such as medications to control pain or prevent the spreading of the disease as well as surgery to remove affected areas of a woman’s reproductive system. A hysterectomy, or removal of the uterus, typically provides the best results in the treatment of this condition. Women with milder forms of the disease may undergo regular monitoring by their physicians and only begin other forms of treatment when their symptoms have worsened. In very rare instances, postmenopausal women may develop cancer in areas of the body that were affected by endometriosis.
