Are you experiencing pelvic pain, painful or heavy periods? About 6.5 million women between the ages of 15 and 44 who suffer from these symptoms have a condition known as endometriosis, according to Office on Women’s Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Endometriosis is especially common in women in their 30s and 40s, and it can make it more difficult to get pregnant.
Endometriosis occurs when the endometrium — cells on the inner layer of the uterus that are shed each month during your menstrual period — grow in other places, most commonly on the ovaries, the fallopian tubes and the lining of the pelvic cavity. These cells can also grow on the bowel surface, on the diaphragm (breathing muscle), and on very rare occasions, the lungs or the brain.
