What is Endometriosis???
What is endometriosis (en-doh-mee-tree-OH-suhs)?
Endometriosis is a common health problem in women. It gets its name from the word, endometrium (en-doh-MEE-tree-um), the tissue that lines the uterus or womb. Endometriosis occurs when this tissue grows outside of the uterus on other organs or structures in the body.
Most often, endometriosis is found on the:
Ovaries
Fallopian tubes
Tissues that hold the uterus in place
Outer surface of the uterus
Lining of the pelvic cavity
Other sites for growths can include the vagina, cervix, vulva, bowel, bladder, or rectum. In rare cases, endometriosis has been found in other parts of the body, such as the lungs, brain, and skin.
What are the symptoms of endometriosis?
The most common symptom of endometriosis is pain in the lower abdomen or pelvis, or the lower back, mainly during menstrual periods. The amount of pain a woman feels does not depend on how much endometriosis she has. Some women have no pain, even though their disease affects large areas. Other women with endometriosis have severe pain even though they have only a few small growths.
Symptoms of endometriosis can include:
Very painful menstrual cramps; pain may get worse over time
Chronic pain in the lower back and pelvis
Pain during or after sex
Intestinal pain
Painful bowel movements or painful urination during menstrual periods
Spotting or bleeding between menstrual periods
Infertility or not being able to get pregnant
Fatigue
Diarrhea, constipation, bloating, or nausea, especially during menstrual periods
The above info was taken from www.womanshealth.gov
For More information about Endometriosis please visit
The pictures below are from my own surgery in July of 2011. . . I was supposed to just have a cyst taken off my ovary, but they also found Stage IV Endometriosis. Everything was stuck together, and I have a ton of scar tissue. . . It is the reason for my infertility. Our DR/RE told us to try immediately and that surgery should give me a good 6 month window of opportunity :|
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Uterus in the middle, left ovary and fallopian tube covered in adhesion's - stuck to side bowl wall, ligaments and Fallopian tube on right side. Filmy pink stretchy looking stuff is all adhesion's
Right Ovary with Endo on surface, small spots, adhesion's behind ovary and fallopian tube. Lot's of scar tissue, but not in the way of the tube opening.
Left side view of uterus and left ovary. Black/Dark area is "blood sausage" a blood sack around my ovary and tube opening. Lots of scar tissue/ adhesion's. everything on that side is stuck to the to the intestines
On the left you see the blood sac at the bottom of my left ovary. On the right you see adhesion's and my right ovary with Endo spots. All the red filmy looking stuff is scar tissue and adhesion's
The Blood sac being cut away from my tube
My poor left tube free of the blood sac, but mangled
The cyst within my ovary being destroyed. They could not get all of it, so it will eventually grow back into a monster. Uggg.
