What is endometriosis?

VANCOUVER, CANADA — A new study has found cancer-related mutations in patients with deep endometriosis, an interesting find given that the condition itself is not cancerous.

The Vancouver Sun reports that endometriosis is largely considered a hormonal disorder, but these new findings open up new possibilities in the diagnosis and management of the often debilitating condition.

Under normal circumstances, the mucus that lines the inside of the uterus, called the endometrium, thickens and sheds in accordance with a woman’s monthly cycle.

But for those with endometriosis, the lining grows outside the uterus, sometimes on other organs like the fallopian tubes, ovaries, or bladder. It still thickens and sheds, but the bloody discharge cannot exit the body, leading to irritation and inflammation.

Adhesions can often form in the pelvic area, and blood-filled chocolate cysts sometimes develop in the ovaries.

Endometriosis can cause severe cramping, painful menstruation, urination, and intercourse. In some cases, it can lead to infertility. The condition has no known cure, but patients can seek treatment to help ease their symptoms, which are usually treated with painkillers, hormone therapy, or surgery.