Infertility May Point To Endometriosis

By Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - It is a very strange problem that seems to randomly attack certain women. It is called endometriosis and it is a problem affecting a woman's uterus.

In endometriosis, it is the tissue that lines the uterus which starts to grow somewhere else. Some common places are the ovaries, behind the uterus, or the bowels or bladder. Rarely, it grows in other parts of the body, even as far away as the knee.

This misplaced tissue can cause pain, infertility, and very heavy periods. In most cases the pain is in the abdomen, lower back, or pelvic areas. Some women have no symptoms at all.

As I mentioned, fertility issues remain a major problem in women with endometriosis and this may be how it is diagnosed - as part of an infertility workup.

It is not the first thing to think of if you have symptoms but it clearly can be a concern.