Endometriosis-Missouri Center for Reproductive Medicine & Fertility

Endometriosis is a condition in which the endometrial lining of the uterus implants outside the uterus. Endometriosis may cause pain and/or infertility.

Pelvic adhesions (scar tissue) can also be a cause of infertility, and can be caused by previous infection, previous surgery, or endometriosis. If the Fallopian tubes are blocked or severely scarred, this may prevent the tube from picking up the egg, or in some cases, lead to an ectopic pregnancy (implantation of the embryo into the Fallopian tube).

Treatments include laparoscopy, hormonal treatments that suppress the growth of endometriosis, and in-vitro fertilization (IVF).

Actual hysteroscopic image of the abdominal cavity with an endometrial lesion cirecled

At left is a laparoscopy image of the abdominal cavity. The red circle surrounds an endometriotic lesion.

For more information, see the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) booklet Endometriosis.