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Endometrium or endometrial lining is a layer of mucus membrane that normally grows on the inside of the uterus. During a menstrual cycle, this layer of tissue grows and thickens. During menstruation, this layer is shed. Endometriosis (commonly referred to as endo) is a condition where endometrium-like tissue grows outside the uterus and attaches to other pelvic organs. This tissue can attach almost anywhere in the pelvis—including the ovaries, bladder, intestines and inside the vagina. It can cause a range of symptoms, including inflammation, excess bleeding and severe pain.
The following slides look at some important numbers surrounding endo, including estimates of the number of women affected, the average age of diagnosis and the impact endo has on fertility.
Medically reviewed in January 2019.