Everyday Medicine by Dr Luke Crantock
Conversations with colleagues providing helpful ideas and advice in healthcare
Episode 80. Endometriosis with Dr Mei Cheah
Endometriosis is the presence of endometrial tissue outside the uterus or embedded within its muscular wall. This unusual condition is known to induce a chronic inflammatory reaction that may be associated with pelvic pain and infertility. In women of reproductive age the estimated prevalence is 7 to 10% and up to one third of women undergoing laparoscopy for pelvic pain are diagnosed with endometriosis. Endometrial deposits may be deeply infiltrating, found in the abdomen and pelvic region may be invading the ovary but also found in the lungs, pleura and on the diaphragm. Ectopic endometrial tissue within the uterine myometrium is referred to as adenomyosis and may be responsible for heavy menstrual bleeding, some estimates place adenomyosis with a prevalence of 20 to 28%.