A description of endometriosis, a common condition affecting 5%-10% of women. The symptoms of endometriosis are presented, along with a discussion of its affect on female fertility and its possible causes and treatments.

Endometriosis is a disorder that affects 5%-10% of woman of a reproductive age. It tends to affect woman who have not had children more than those who have had children, which could be coincidental to its link with infertility (as detailed below).

Effectively, Endometriosis is when the lining of the womb (the Endometrium) forms small nests or cysts in other areas of the pelvis where it does not naturally occur, such as the muscles of the womb and particularly the ovaries. These cysts become bigger if it is not treated.

The disorder becomes particularly painful during menstruation, when the nests or cysts in the womb lining fill with blood that is released. The blood will then stretch the cysts, causing dysmenorrhoea, the scientific name for period pains.

The common symptoms of Endometriosis are as follows:

• Dysmenorrhoea/Painful periods. This can be accompanied by heavy periods with severe clotting. Spotting between periods can also occur.

• Pain in the pelvic region and lower back. Sometimes, there is also pain in the thighs and legs.

• Pain during sexual intercourse, this is due to added pressure on one or more of the cysts.

• The need to urinate frequently with some urgency and sometimes pain during urination; or being unable to empty the bladder.

• Tiredness, headaches, anxiety and depression.

• Conditions such as IBS, which cause diarrhoea, bloating and constipation.

• Infertility

It is thought that Endometriosis causes infertility, as the condition causes disfiguration of areas of the reproductive organs that then become detrimental to the ovum and embryo. It has also been suggested that these scar-like lesions in the reproductive area release certain naturally-occurring chemicals that interfere with fertility and prevent pregnancy. It has been argued that Endometriosis is a by-product of infertility and does not actually cause it, which is why it is more prevalent in childless women.

It is claimed that there is no cure for Endometriosis and that the only relief for sufferers is menopause, real or medically induced. Various pain relief medications can be prescribed for the level of pain that is experienced by sufferers. However, there are several treatments available for women who have Endometriosis that have been tried with varying degrees of success. As it is a condition of the reproductive organs, hormonal medication has been proved to alleviate symptoms and slow the growth of the Endometrium.

Another treatment involves the option of several types of surgery. This is generally used on woman who are still of a fertile age but childless. By a range of processes, removal surgery takes away the scar tissue and cysts from the reproductive organs to give the patient a higher chance of conception. This method of treatment has been proved to increase fertility in certain cases. However, many woman are prescribed fertility drugs or receive IVF following their procedure, which is another factor that could be a reason for their increased fertility.