Endometriosis
5 medicines
Endometriosis is a chronic condition where tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus, causing pelvic pain and fertility problems, usually managed with hormonal therapy.
Key facts
- Endometriosis happens when tissue resembling the uterine lining grows outside the uterus, commonly on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, or pelvic wall.
- It causes pelvic pain tied to the menstrual cycle, heavy or irregular periods, pain during sex, and sometimes difficulty conceiving.
- Treatment centres on hormones: progestogens such as norethindrone, dydrogesterone, and medroxyprogesterone, or the androgen danazol when progestogens are not enough.
- It affects roughly 1 in 10 women of reproductive age, many of whom wait years for a diagnosis.
What is happening
Endometriosis occurs when tissue resembling the uterine lining establishes itself outside the uterus. Each menstrual cycle, this tissue behaves like the uterine lining: it swells, breaks down, and bleeds, but has nowhere to drain. The result is inflammation, scar tissue, and often significant pain.
Symptoms worth knowing
The most common presentation is pelvic pain tied to the menstrual cycle, though pain can persist throughout the month. Heavy or irregular periods, pain during sex, and difficulty conceiving are also typical. Bowel or bladder symptoms during a period can point to deeper infiltration. Because these signs overlap with other conditions, endometriosis is often dismissed as ordinary period pain.
How endometriosis is treated
Treatment works by suppressing the hormonal cycle that drives the tissue to grow and bleed. Progestogens are a mainstay: norethindrone and dydrogesterone thin the endometrial tissue and reduce monthly bleeding, while medroxyprogesterone can induce a pseudo-pregnancy state that halts lesion activity. Danazol, a synthetic androgen, suppresses oestrogen and is sometimes used when progestogens fall short. Symptom relief and fertility goals both shape which approach suits you; the full women's health range has more options.
Living with the condition
Consistent pain management between cycles, heat therapy, and low-impact exercise can ease day-to-day symptoms. Cutting back on inflammatory foods is widely reported as helpful, though the evidence is modest. Regular gynaecological follow-up matters, since endometriosis can progress silently.
When to see a doctor
Seek prompt assessment if pain becomes severe and sudden, since ovarian cysts related to endometriosis can rupture. Book a routine appointment for pelvic pain, heavy periods, or fertility difficulty that hasn't been assessed.
This page is educational and does not replace advice from a doctor or pharmacist who knows your health history.