What Is Endometriosis?
Your uterus’s interior lining is called the endometrium. You lose this tissue when you are menstruating. Imagine layers of tissue accumulating along the uterine interior as endometrium. These layers separate from the uterine walls during your menstruation and leave your body. The endometrium supports the early stages of development if you become pregnant.
Endometrial-looking tissue develops on other organs or structures when you have endometriosis. This tissue may develop in your chest, pelvis, or abdomen. Due to its hormonal sensitivity, this tissue can swell up throughout your menstrual cycle. These patches of tissue that resemble endometrium can result in ovarian cysts, skin lesions, deeper nodules, adhesions, and scar tissue throughout your body.