endometriosis

noun

en·​do·​me·​tri·​osis ˌen-dō-ˌmē-trē-ˈō-səs 

: the presence and growth of tissue similar to endometrium in places other than the uterus and especially in the pelvis and abdomen that often results in severe pain and infertility

Endometriosis is not malignant, but it mimics cancer in the way it spreads and attaches itself to other organs—most commonly the ovary, bladder, and bowel.

—Consumer Reports

Endometriosis is one of the leading causes of female infertility and causes great pain and life disruption.

—Paul G. Donohue

Examples of endometriosis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

So much of the suffering caused by conditions like PCOS, endometriosis, and menopause is the secrecy and shame that shrouds them. —Maria Yagoda, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Dec. 2024

In animal models, endometriosis, a secondary cause of dysmenorrhea, led to depression. —Kristen Rogers, CNN, 29 Nov. 2024

Medical options include hormonal birth control, the first line of treatment for endometriosis. —Michelle Pugle, Verywell Health, 4 Nov. 2024

Set in Bible-belt middle America, Gilpin’s Lina suffers physically from fibromyalgia and endometriosis but emotionally from shame. —Scarlett Harris, IndieWire, 13 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

New Latin

First Known Use

1925, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

endometriosis

noun

en·​do·​me·​tri·​osis ˌen-dō-ˌmē-trē-ˈō-səs 

plural endometrioses -ˌsēz 

: the presence and growth of tissue similar to endometrium in places other than the uterus and especially in the pelvis and abdomen and that often results in severe pain and infertility

The primary symptoms of endometriosis are pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, backache, dyschezia, dysuria, and infertility.

—G. David Adamson, The Journal of the American Medical Association

About 40 percent of infertile women suffer from endometriosis.

—Gigi Martino, Science News

see adenomyosis

endometriotic

-trē-ˈät-ik 

adjective

an endometriotic cyst

endometriotic tissue