Endometriosis as female reproductive system disorder: mechanisms, diagnosis and clinical management

Endometriosis is a gynecological, chronic, and inflammatory disease affecting one out of ten women globally. It occurs when tissues similar to the endometrial layer of the uterus grow outside the uterine body leading to inflammation, pain, and infertility. The most common site of endometriotic lesions is pelvic cavity, especially the ovaries. Thus, at the same time as menstruation, these points initiate bleeding, which results in many difficulties. Several mechanisms of endometriosis have been suggested, such as retrograde menstruation, the influence of environmental and genetic factors, and hormonal causes. In some cases, this pathologic condition occurs following pregnancy or pelvic surgery. Disease management also involves the use of painkillers and contraceptive hormones for a relatively long time or even the use of laparoscopy to remove the pathologic lesions. In this review, the mechanisms of endometriosis were discussed, as well as various aspects of the disease in the field of diagnosis and treatment were assessed.