Endometriosis happens when tissue similar to the tissue that lines the womb (uterus) grows outside of the womb, mostly in the pelvis.
The lining of the womb is shed from the body in the form of a period (as long as no eggs have been fertilised). The abnormal tissue growing outside the womb will try and do the same thing, but as it is not inside the womb, there is no way for the blood to escape the body as it is stuck inside the tummy. This is what can cause pain as it sets off inflammation.
Don’'t worry endometriosis cannot kill you and you can’'t pass it on to anyone, but if you don't have treatment you could become infertile.
Teens with endometriosis
New Zealand research shows that adolescent girls who display period pains, which do not respond to pain killer medication or the OCP, should be investigated for endometriosis. In a cohort study of such girls, 93% had stage 3-4 endometriosis on laparoscopy at the age of 13 years. Endometriosis is a possible diagnosis in teenage girls with suggestive onset of symptoms.
We do not know the cause of endometriosis but we do know that there are things that can trigger the symptoms. It is not something that you can catch, it is probably genetic and is passed from generation to generation via genes. We do know that there are factors that can trigger the disease or the symptoms.