Endometriosis is a condition in which tissue like the lining of the womb grows outside it. It can cause painful periods, pain during sex, pain opening the bowels during a period, and difficulty conceiving. It is common and often takes years to diagnose.
How it is diagnosed
By listening to the symptoms, by examination, by scan (which can show some types, especially cysts on the ovary, but not all), and in some cases by keyhole surgery, which is the only way to see small deposits. Not everyone needs surgery to be diagnosed or treated.
Treatment
It depends on what matters most to you now: pain, fertility, or both. Options range from pain relief and hormonal treatment to surgery.
Questions to ask
- What makes you think this is endometriosis?
- What did the scan show, and what can a scan not show?
- If surgery is suggested, what is it for: diagnosis, pain, or fertility?
- What are the options if I want to try for a pregnancy soon?
In Sinhala the condition has no single everyday word; people search "endometriosis meaning in sinhala". The Sinhala version of this page will explain the term.
This article is general information, not advice about you. Not for emergencies. Call 1990.