Pelvic disorders
Endometriosis
Related terms · Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a chronic disease where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus, which can cause inflammation and pain.
Overview
Endometriosis: Please look at these three things first
- Endometriosis is a chronic disease where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus exists outside the uterus, which can cause inflammation, pain, and adhesions.
- menstrual painIt can manifest not only as such but also as chronic pelvic pain, dyspareunia (pain during intercourse), dyschezia (pain during bowel movements), dysuria (pain during urination), and fertility issues; the severity of symptoms does not always correlate with the extent of the lesions.
- While maintaining diagnosis and existing treatments, the roles of medication, surgery, and combined care are divided based on pain, bleeding, and pregnancy plans.
Meaning and Distinctions
What is endometriosis?
Menstrual pain,Chronic pelvic paindyspareunia, dyschezia, and fertility issues may occur. Endometriosis is a chronic disease where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus exists outside the uterus, which can cause inflammation and pain.
- Easily confused terms
- It cannot be completely ruled out even if the ultrasound is normal; symptoms and physical examinations are reviewed together.
- Why this is checked during medical evaluation
- Pain control, hormone therapy, surgery, and pregnancy plans are considered together.
- What to record for your visit
- Determine the scope of combined Korean medicine treatment while maintaining your diagnosis and treatment plan.
Learn more
Connecting endometriosis to my symptoms
Record the location and function of pain that worsens during menstruation
Record how many days before menstruation the pain begins, whether it spreads to one side of the pelvis, the lower back, or the anal area, and whether it worsens during bowel movements, urination, or intercourse. It is easier to identify the actual burden of symptoms if you also note the time and effect of pain medication, as well as days you missed school or work or woke up from sleep due to pain.
A single imaging test is not viewed as the same thing as the presence of pain
Ultrasound or MRI can help with diagnosis, but not all endometriosis lesions appear the same way. Conversely, treatment methods are not decided solely on the fact that a lesion is visible on imaging. Please discuss your current pain, pregnancy plans, and responses to past surgery and hormone therapy together.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions when looking into endometriosis
If the ultrasound is normal, does that mean it is not endometriosis?
Ultrasound does not rule out all lesions. If pelvic pain related to menstruation anddyspareuniadyschezia persist, please consult your medical team regarding symptoms, physical examination, and necessary additional evaluations.
If it is endometriosis, is surgery always necessary?
Surgery is not performed in all cases. Options such as medication or surgery vary depending on the severity of pain, the location of the lesion, the response to previous treatments, and pregnancy plans.
Women's Health Glossary
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You can check a brief definition before proceeding to a detailed explanation.Read More
Check guides where this term is used
- Condition GuideEndometriosisThe exact cause of endometriosis is not yet known. Research suggests it may involve retrograde menstruation, where menstrual blood and tissue flow through the fallopian tubes into the pelvis; a process where the immune system fails to remove similar tissues outside the uterus; and genetic predisposition and hormonal influences. However, none of these explain every case or can confirm an individual's specific cause. A family history of endometriosis, early menarche, short cycles, or long menstrual periods are contexts that may increase risk, but they are not diagnoses themselves. If you experience recurring menstrual pain, pelvic pain, or difficulty conceiving, please seek an evaluation from an obstetrics and gynecology clinic rather than blaming yourself for the cause.→
- Condition GuideMenstrual CrampsPrimary menstrual pain usually manifests as a squeezing pain in the lower abdomen just before or around the start of menstruation, which may spread to the lower back and thighs; it may also be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, or dizziness. On the other hand, if pain occurs that was not present before, gradually worsens, lasts long before menstruation starts or remains after it ends, or overlaps with excessive/irregular bleeding, dyspareunia, dysuria (pain during urination), or pain during bowel movements, secondary causes such as endometriosis, adenomyosis, fibroids, or pelvic inflammatory disease must be checked. If there is a possibility of pregnancy and you experience severe one-sided pain, bleeding, shoulder pain, dizziness, or a feeling of fainting, do not assume it is menstrual pain and seek an immediate evaluation.→
- Medical Evaluation GuideWhat are the differences between menstrual cramps, endometriosis, adenomyosis, and fibroids?Pain that occurs around the start of menstruation and is controlled with pain medication is common, but if the pain worsens every year, continues outside of menstruation, or occurs during intercourse or bowel movements, endometriosis is checked. Severe menstrual pain and heavy bleeding, or an enlarged uterus, can appear in adenomyosis; while a feeling of pressure, frequent urination, and heavy bleeding can appear in fibroids. We do not distinguish these by symptoms alone but tailor the necessary tests, such as physical examinations and ultrasounds.→
- Medical Evaluation GuideWhen pain that only occurred during menstruation persists even on normal days, what has changed?→
Evidence and Update Information
The following materials were referenced to verify the basis and scope of the definitions and treatment explanations.