Endometriosis (endo) is a disease; in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus. Endometrosis can cause servere pain and/or infertility. Some endo cases can have no pain symptoms.
This tissue; that grows outside the uterus in endometriosis is not the same as endometrial tissue, but they have some features in common. Endometriosis can grow on your ovaries, Fallopian tubes, bladder, colon and Vagina.
Endometrial tissue can also develop in other areas outside of the reproductive tract. Endo can also grow in the heart, the lungs, and the digestive track. In some very rare cases; Endo on the spine, or brain.
1 in 10
According to this survey: 10% of reproductive-age women have endometriosis. That is 190,000,000 women in the world. (2020) Zondervan KT, Becker CM, Missmer SA. Endometriosis. N Engl J Med 2020; 382:1244-56.
https://www.nejm.org/doi/pdf/10.1056/NEJMra1810764?listPDF
Endo is a chronic disease associated with very painful period cramps. severe pelvic pain, abdominal bloating, pain during periods, sexual intercourse, bowel movements and or urination.
These symptoms. Coupled with family/friends/Medical staff that dissreguard your pain as standard menstrual cramps and/or overdramatic common issues. These discredits to your feelings can cause anxiety, depression, and in many cases; infertility & Reproduction issues. Some people have even taken their own lives over it.