Endometriosis is a common gynecological condition, particularly
among women of childbearing age, affecting an estimated 2 to 10
percent of American women in this age group. Endometriosis can
be a debilitating disease for some women who experience ongoing
pain, while others may not experience any symptoms. It is also a
factor in infertility. According to the American Society for
Reproductive Medicine, endometriosis can be found in 24 percent
to 50 percent of women who experience infertility. What is
Endometriosis? The name comes from the word "endometrium," which
is the tissue that lines the uterus. During a woman's regular
menstrual cycle, this tissue builds up and is shed if she does
not become pregnant. Women with endometriosis develop tissue
that looks and acts like endometrial tissue outside the uterus,
usually on other reproductive organs inside the pelvis or in the
abdominal cavity. Each month, this misplaced tissue responds to
the hormonal changes of the menstrual cycle by building up and
breaking down