What is Endometriosis

Endometriosis and Endometriosis Stages

What is endometriosis and what are the endometriosis stages? What is endometriosis? What is endometriosis and its causes? What are the endometriosis stages? According to Dr. Stanley West, reproductive health physician and author of The Hysterectomy Hoax, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine has categorized endometriosis stages into these stages:

Stage One - few endometrial implants, most often in the cul-de-sac in the woman's pelvic area.

Stage Two - mild to moderate levels of endometrial implants affecting one or both ovaries.

Stage Three - moderate levels of endometriosis with implants in several reproductive areas, perhaps in one or both ovaries.

Stage Four - the most severe of the endometriosis stages with widespread endometriosis implants throughout the pelvic area. The more widespread the endometriosis, the more likely fertility problems will be experienced.

Although endometriosis is a difficult condition to treat, there are steps any woman can take to reduce the suffering that comes with the various endometriosis stages.

How Endometriosis Affects Conception

Endometriosis is a common, yet poorly understood disease. While some women with endometriosis may have severe pelvic pain, others who have the condition have no symptoms. What is Endometriosis?

The name endometriosis comes from the word "endometrium," the tissue that lines the inside of the uterus. In endometriosis, tissue that looks and acts like endometrial tissue is found outside the uterus, usually inside the abdominal cavity. Tissues surrounding the area of endometriosis may become inflamed or swollen. The inflammation may produce scar tissue around the area of endometriosis. Physicians may use stages to describe the severity of endometriosis. Endometrial implants that are small and not widespread are considered minimal or mild endometriosis. Moderate endometriosis means that larger implants or more extensive scar tissue is present. Severe endometriosis is used to describe large implants and extensive scar tissue.

Most commonly, the symptoms of endometriosis start years after menstrual periods begin. Infertility occurs in about 30-40 percent of women with endometriosis.

Some women with severe endometriosis have no pain; while others with just a few small growths have incapacitating pain.

Endometrial cancer is very rarely associated with endometriosis, occurring in less than 1 percent of women who have the disease. How is Endometriosis Related to Fertility Problems?

Severe endometriosis with extensive scarring and organ damage may affect fertility. While the pregnancy rates for patients with endometriosis remain lower than those of the general population, most patients with endometriosis do not experience fertility problems. What is the Cause of Endometriosis?

The cause of endometriosis is still unknown. Whatever the cause of endometriosis, its progression is influenced by various stimulating factors such as hormones or growth factors. How is Endometriosis Diagnosed?

Diagnosis of endometriosis begins with a gynecologist evaluating the patient's medical history. Endometriosis is a long-standing disease that often develops slowly.

Endometriosis is a progressive disorder.

The pain associated with endometriosis can be diminished by using acupuncture and herbal medicine. I have treated many women with endometriosis and have successfully alleviated pain and slowed down growth and recurrence of endometriosis.

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