Endometriosis is a very common condition that affects women in different ways.

Endometriosis occurs when cells lining the inside of the womb grow in other parts of the body. These cells, which are sensitive to hormones, can break down, bleed, and cause symptoms.

Some women with endometriosis have no symptoms. It may be found during investigations when one has trouble getting pregnant.  Most women, however, do have pain in the lower part of the tummy during periods, during sex, when opening bowels or passing urine. Sometimes they may have no pain, but have difficulty in getting pregnant.

DIAGNOSIS
The condition is not usually seen on ultrasound unless the ovaries are really enlarged.
Pain during examination may indicate the presence of endometriosis.
The only way to know for sure if you have endometriosis is for a doctor to do surgery and look for endometriosis tissue outside the uterus.

TREATMENT
Endometriosis can be treated in different ways, depending on symptoms and pregnancy plans.

Medications:

• Stronger pain killers
• Hormones including Birth control pills- unsuitable if pregnancy is being planned in the near future.

Surgery:

• Laparoscopy –a small cut  is made in the belly and camera inserted to confirm the diagnosis. Endometriosis tissue can also be removed at the same time.
• Hysterectomy –surgery to remove the uterus, sometimes the ovaries are also removed. A woman cannot get pregnant after her uterus is removed.