the
endometrium is the lining of the uterus. during the monthly menstrual cycle, the endometrium becomes thick with tissue and blood vessels to support a potential pregnancy. if you get pregnant during this time, the fertilized egg attaches to the endometrium, which will continue to support the baby for the duration of the pregnancy. if a pregnancy does not happen, the body sheds the extra tissue and blood (menstruation) in preparation for a new cycle.in
endometriosis, endometrium-like tissue is also present outside of the uterus (called endometrium implants)
in places like the fallopian tubes, outside wall of the uterus, bladder, and rectum. in some very rare instances, endometrium has been found in the
lungs and
skin.this tissue may behave similarly to the endometrium inside the uterus, in that it will become thicker throughout your monthly cycle before shedding the extra tissue and blood that has developed. unlike the endometrium in the uterus, however, this tissue doesn’t have an easy way to leave the body.the presence of this tissue outside of the uterus can cause inflammation, cysts, and scarring – all of which can be very painful. there are
four stages of endometriosis, with stage 4 having the most severe presence of endometrium implants, scarring and cysts. the four stages are not an indicator of pain, however – stage one can also be very painful depending on the physiology of the implants.in some cases, implants may interact with nerves in the abdomen (like the
sciatic nerve), causing pain and weakness in various other area of the body.it is thought that
10 per cent of women – or 1 in 10 – have endometriosis. however, because laparoscopic surgery is the standard for diagnosing endometriosis, this rate may be higher as surgery is often seen as a last resort.