What is endometriosis and what are its symptoms?

Endometriosis is one of those health conditions that is little talked about, but that affects millions of women around the world. Many suffer from it for years without knowing exactly what is happening to them, normalizing intense pain or discomfort that, in reality, should not be part of their daily lives. Therefore, understanding what endometriosis is and how it manifests is a key step to seeking help, receiving a timely diagnosis and improving quality of life.

Simply put, endometriosis occurs when tissue similar to that lining the inside of the uterus (the endometrium) grows outside of it. This tissue can appear in the ovaries, fallopian tubes, the outside of the uterus, the bladder, the intestines, and, in less common cases, other areas of the body. The problem is that this “misplaced” tissue reacts to hormonal changes in the menstrual cycle, causing inflammation, pain, and, over time, scarring or adhesions.

One of the great challenges of endometriosis is that it does not always manifest itself in the same way. There are women with extensive lesions that barely present symptoms, and others with small foci of endometriosis who suffer very intense pain. This variability often means that the disease goes unnoticed or is confused with other gynecological problems.

To better understand endometriosis, it is helpful to imagine how the menstrual cycle works. Every month, the endometrium thickens to prepare for a possible pregnancy. If this does not occur, the tissue is shed and eliminated through menstruation. In endometriosis, tissue that grows outside the uterus also responds to hormones, but has no exit route. This causes internal inflammation, persistent pain, and in some cases, microscopic internal bleeding that irritates nearby organs.