Endometriosis
Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a condition in which tissue similar to the uterine lining is found outside of the uterine cavity. Endometriosis may cause debilitating symptoms such as dysmenorrhea (menstrual pain), non-menstrual pelvic pain, and dyspareunia (painful intercourse).
Endometriosis lesions can be found throughout the pelvis and abdomen, including on the ovaries and intestines. It is unknown what determines the location of endometriosis.
How common is this? Is this normal? Abnormal?
Approximately 10% of women of reproductive age have endometriosis. Many of these women have symptoms that do not respond to hormonal contraceptives, the first-line therapy.
Women with suspected endometriosis can be identified prior to surgery using non-invasive tools including a combination of patient interviews, clinical examination, and imaging.
It is common for women to experience some discomfort during their menstrual cycles. Moderate-to-severe pain that disrupts daily activities is not normal. Uncertainty around what is normal and abnormal pelvic pain can contribute to delayed diagnosis.
Impact
Medical Need
(U.S. Women Ages 15-49)
Delayed Diagnosis
How does endometriosis affect the body?
Many women with endometriosis experience menstrual pain, non-menstrual pelvic pain, and painful intercourse. A common association with endometriosis is infertility. Other effects of endometriosis, which can impact many organs, include fatigue and urinary and bowel symptoms. Estrogen, which is produced by the ovaries, contributes to the development and growth of endometriosis.
Standard treatment options
Standard treatment options for endometriosis include medical therapies and surgery. Some women report improved hormonal contraceptives improve their symptoms. GnRH agonists are injections that lower estrogen and manage the disease. This treatment is for short-term use due to bone mineral density loss, hot flashes, and other side effects from a low-estrogen state.
Laparoscopy is a surgical procedure that may include the removal of visible endometriosis. While some women report improved symptoms with hysterectomy, the surgery does not remove all endometriosis and involves removal of the entire uterus, which leads to the loss of fertility. Despite multiple laparoscopies, some women still undergo a hysterectomy, which can involve major complications such as excessive bleeding and infection. Additional treatment options exist. All treatment decisions should be discussed with a healthcare provider.
Medical(other than pain medications)
- Hormonal contraceptives
- GnRH agonists
Surgical
- Laparoscopy
- Hysterectomy
Turning science into medicine
Too often, endometriosis is dismissed as a “bad period” or normal menstruation. At Myovant, we believe that women should be empowered to lead full, healthy lives. This is why we are invested in driving women’s health forward and developing innovative treatments to improve the current standard of care.
Starting the conversation
Talking to your healthcare provider or loved ones about endometriosis can be hard. We’re here to help facilitate the conversation so that women get the attention they need and deserve. Here are some helpful resources:
Learn more at endometriosisassn.org
The Endometriosis Association provides comprehensive education and community support to women with endometriosis.
Learn more at endometriosis.org
Endometriosis.org provides information and support to women suffering from endometriosis.
Learn more at endomarchnews.org
The WorldWide EndoMarch is a growing community of patients and advocates fighting for endometriosis awareness and research.
Learn more at acog.org
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) provides comprehensive resources on the symptoms, diagnosis, and current treatments of endometriosis.
Our advocacy
We are dedicated to working across sectors to bring much-needed attention and innovation to women’s health because when she moves forward, we all move forward.
We are dedicated to working across sectors to bring much-needed attention and innovation to women’s health because when she moves forward, we all move forward.