| Endometriosis symptoms can vary greatly from one | | | | may not have an effect on fertility. Stage 1 |
| person to the next. Symptoms can be severe while | | | | endometriosis is usually treated with medications |
| the endometriosis itself is mild. Mild symptoms can be | | | | unless you are trying to conceive. If you are having |
| present or even undetectable and endometriosis can | | | | trouble conceiving, then even minimal amounts of |
| be very advanced. The endometriosis symptoms you | | | | endometrial implants and lesions may need to be |
| experience could have no correlation at all to the | | | | surgically removed. Another reason to treat stage 1 |
| extent or severity of the endometriosis itself. | | | | endometriosis is because it is progressive and can |
| Endometriosis tissue is much like the lining of your | | | | lead to dangerous organ damage down the line. |
| uterus. It reacts hormonally the same as the uterine | | | | Stage 2 endometriosis is mild, but more than just the |
| lining. It grows and sheds along with your menstrual | | | | occasional lesion or implant is visible. Stage 2 |
| cycle. It is widely believed that in some cases, when | | | | endometriosis usually means that at least one of the |
| the uterine lining is shed, it does not leave the body | | | | ovaries has endometriosis present. This can lead to |
| as it is supposed to. Instead, it travels up the fallopian | | | | your fallopian tubes being blocked by scar tissues or |
| tubes and into the abdominal cavity. Here, it infests | | | | the ovaries themselves being compromised by the |
| the reproductive organs, surrounding tissues and | | | | present implants. |
| even the nearby organs. | | | | Stage 3 endometriosis is considered moderate. Stage |
| Endometriosis is a progressive disease and can get | | | | 3 is used to describe endometriosis, usually on both |
| worse over time. It can spread to the lower back, | | | | ovaries as well as the uterus. Implants and lesions |
| bowels, kidneys, lungs and other organs, inhibiting | | | | may be deeper and take up more area than stage 2 |
| organ function. This is why it is particularly important | | | | implants and lesions. Surgical treatment of stage 3 |
| to treat endometriosis even if you do not have | | | | and stage 4 endometriosis historically has had the |
| infertility concerns. | | | | greatest impact on fertility associated with |
| Symptoms can be mild or severe. They include | | | | endometriosis. |
| heavy, painful or irregular periods. Lower back pain | | | | Stage 4 is the most severe. Stage 4 is used to |
| and kidney problems are also not uncommon. Many | | | | describe endometriosis that is prominent in the |
| women are not diagnosed with endometriosis until | | | | abdominal cavity. Stage 4 endometriosis can affect |
| they experience infertility. Endometriosis is usually | | | | many surrounding organs and be very dangerous. |
| discovered during a diagnostic laparoscopic surgery | | | | This is the stage most commonly associated with |
| while an infertility specialist is looking for infertility | | | | infertility. |
| causes. A laparoscopic endometriosis treatment may | | | | If you are experiencing any endometriosis symptoms |
| be necessary to restore fertility. Laparoscopy is the | | | | and are having trouble conceiving, then you could |
| only way to definitively diagnose endometriosis. | | | | have an advanced level of endometriosis. You should |
| Endometriosis severity is measured in stages. Stage 1 | | | | never ignore endometriosis symptoms or prolong |
| is referred to as minimal endometriosis and may or | | | | treatment. |