What is Endometriosis:

During monthly menstruation, the female body, based on hormonal fluctuations sheds the endometrium or uterine lining (the process commonly known as a "period"). In women who have endometriosis, menstrual fluids leak back into the body in areas outside of the uterus. These fluids have no way to exit and eventually accumulate on the bladder, bowel, top of the vagina (the "cul de sac"), or other nearby organs, leading to the development of scarring and fibroid-like nodules. This causes symptoms that vary from severe cramping to chronic pelvic pain, severe painful periods, infertility, pain with sex, painful bowel movements and rectal pain.

A common myth about endometriosis is that the more endometrial cells accumulate in the body outside of the uterine cavity, the more pain it causes for the woman. However, situations do vary. Moderate growth can trigger intense pain in some women while advanced growth causes less severe pain in others. Every woman's situation is unique and therefore expert medical evaluation is absolutely essential.

The profound, agonizing pain caused by endometriosis is very treatable, and in many cases curable. Often, women "manage" their discomfort for years with powerful painkillers and hormones, but these only mask symptoms of the condition. What's more, many patients are incorrectly informed by their doctors and treated for symptoms but not endometriosis, which consequently causes a long delay in treatment. And this dangerous result has led to many "hit or miss" surgeries and thousands of unnecessary hysterectomies. But Laparoscopic Excision Surgery (deep removal of all the disease) is an effective, less invasive option and is ideally performed by experienced, specialized surgeons with dedicated, multidisciplinary medical teams.