Endometriosis
The tissue that normally lines the inside of the uterus is called the endometrium. The uterus is the organ at the top of the vagina. Babies develop in the uterus, and menstrual blood comes from the uterus. In some women endometrium grows outside the uterus. When this happens a woman has a condition called endometriosis. The most common areas for this abnormal growth of endometrium are the reproductive organs (the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and uterus). Endometrium may also grow on the intestines, bladder, rectum, and the lining of the pelvic area and abdomen.
This misplaced tissue responds to the hormones of the menstrual cycle and bleeds each month in the same way the lining of the uterus responds to hormones. However, if the tissue is not in the uterus, the blood shed from the tissue has no way to leave the body. When the tissue bleeds, cysts, scar tissue, and adhesions form. Adhesions are scar tissue that binds organs together. Adhesions or scars on the ovaries or tubes can cause infertility. Very rarely, endometriosis becomes cancerous.
| Service Name | Appointment |
|---|---|
| Gynecology - University of Michigan Endometriosis Center (UMEC) | 734-763-4323 |
