Graphic by Sunny Wei 23’.
By Yuyang Wang ’24
Staff Writer
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, the endometrium is the layer of tissue inside the uterus. The endometrium grows during each menstrual cycle to prepare for a fertilized egg. If no eggs are fertilized during the menstrual cycle, the endometrium is shed during what is commonly known as a period, according to Cleveland Clinic.
Endometriosis refers to a condition where the endometrium grows on the outside of the uterus. When endometrial tissue grows in areas that do not shed during a period cycle, it can build up and cause “inflammation, scarring and painful cysts,” Johns Hopkins Medicine explains.
Statistics from Johns Hopkins Medicine show that one in 10 women between the ages of 15 and 44 have endometriosis. While the exact cause of endometriosis is unknown, several theories exist, according to John Hopkins Medicine. Endometrial tissue has been found to leave the uterus through the veins or lymphatic system, similar to the spread of cancer cells through the body. Endometrial cells can also be indeliberately attached to some areas outside the uterus after surgeries such as a C-section or hysterectomy.
Another possible cause is “reverse menstruation,” when instead of being shed from the body during a period, endometrial tissue goes into the fallopian tubes and the abdomen, according to John Hopkins Medicine. Certain hormones can also “transform” cells in other parts of the body into endometrial cells, the Mayo Clinic reported.
The most typical symptoms of endometriosis are pain and infertility. However, the symptoms may vary between different persons. People who have endometriosis may not feel any pain, and severe pain during the period cycle is not directly correlated with endometriosis, said Johns Hopkins Medicine.
Johns Hopkins Medicine points out that there are some factors that can cause a higher risk of developing endometriosis. These include other family members having endometriosis, an “abnormal uterus, which is diagnosed by a doctor,” starting menstruation before the age of 11, short menstrual periods and “heavy menstrual periods lasting more than seven days.”
On the other hand, there are some factors that can lower the risk of endometriosis including experiencing a pregnancy, breastfeeding and eating citrus fruits.
There are three treatment methods for endometriosis, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. The most common non-surgical treatments include hormone therapy and pain management. If the disease is already in the late period or is more severe, a laparoscopy or laparotomy is required. Hysterectomy, or removing the uterus, is another treatment method that results in decreased estrogen levels and an inability to become pregnant.