Endometriosis
Cause
The exact cause of endometriosis is not known. Possible causes include the following:
- Your Reference immune system Opens New Window may not be getting rid of endometrial cells outside of the uterus like it should.
- Heavy bleeding or an abnormal structure of the uterus,
cervix, or vagina causes too many endometrial cells to go up through the
Reference fallopian tubes Opens New Window Reference
Opens New Window and then into the belly. (This is called retrograde
menstruation). - Blood or Reference lymph fluid Opens New Window may carry endometrial cells to other parts of the body. Or the cells may be moved during a surgery, such as an Reference episiotomy Opens New Window or a Reference cesarean delivery Opens New Window.
- Cells in the belly and pelvis may change into endometrial cells.
- Endometrial cells may have formed outside the uterus when you were a fetus.
- It may be passed down through families.
| By: | Reference Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: Reference July 7, 2011 |
| Medical Review: | Reference Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine
Reference Kirtly Jones, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology |
|
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