Endometriosis

Description

• Presence of endometrial tissue and glands outside uterus
• An estrogen-dependent chronic inflammatory disease
• Affects 2–10% of general population, 50% in the infertile population, and 50–60% of women/teenage girls with chronic pelvic pain
• Endometrial tissue found anywhere in pelvic cavity, on ovaries, uterine ligament (due to retrograde menstruation) and distant sites, including bowel and lungs

Etiology

Unknown
Pediatric Considerations
Not prior to menarche

Risk Factors

• Anatomic obstruction of menstrual outflow
• Early menarche
• Short menstrual cycles
• Hereditary disease, with 7× higher prevalence in first-degree relatives