Endometriosis is a condition where the hormone-sensitive layer of tissue (known as endometrial tissue) that normally lines the inside of your uterus grows outside of your womb. Endometriosis most commonly occurs in the lining of the pelvis or on the ovaries but can also affect the bowel or bladder – and in rare cases can occur as far away as the navel or lungs. Endometrial tissue responds to hormones in the same way as the tissue lining your uterus –it thickens, breaks down and bleeds. However, that shed tissue has nowhere to go, so it becomes trapped, and can be extremely painful.
