endometriosis
noun
en·do·me·tri·osis
ˌen-dō-ˌmē-trē-ˈō-səs 
: the presence and growth of tissue similar to endometrium in places other than the uterus and especially in the pelvis and abdomen that often results in severe pain and infertility
Endometriosis is not malignant, but it mimics cancer in the way it spreads and attaches itself to other organs—most commonly the ovary, bladder, and bowel.—
Consumer Reports
Consumer ReportsEndometriosis is one of the leading causes of female infertility and causes great pain and life disruption.—Paul G. Donohue
Paul G. DonohueExamples of endometriosis in a Sentence
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This is often the case for women with endometriosis, who may get endometriomas, or cysts in the ovaries, that fill with old blood.
—Jocelyn Solis-Moreira, Flow Space, 27 Oct. 2025
The pain can often be musculoskeletal, but can also be related to gynaecological conditions such as endometriosis, which is when cells similar to the lining of the uterus grow outside the uterus, often on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, or other pelvic organs.
—Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
Would my own health—after a recent surgery for stage 4 endometriosis—throw a wrench into my plans?
—Owen Clarke, Outside, 13 Oct. 2025
Other procedures in demand include aerodigestive surgery and gynecology, especially endometriosis treatment.
—Claire Dodds, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for endometriosis
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Jocelyn Solis-Moreira, Flow Space, 27 Oct. 2025
The pain can often be musculoskeletal, but can also be related to gynaecological conditions such as endometriosis, which is when cells similar to the lining of the uterus grow outside the uterus, often on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, or other pelvic organs.
—Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
Would my own health—after a recent surgery for stage 4 endometriosis—throw a wrench into my plans?
—Owen Clarke, Outside, 13 Oct. 2025
Other procedures in demand include aerodigestive surgery and gynecology, especially endometriosis treatment.
—Claire Dodds, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for endometriosis
Cite this Entry
“Endometriosis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/endometriosis. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
endometriosis
noun
en·do·me·tri·osis
ˌen-dō-ˌmē-trē-ˈō-səs
plural endometrioses
-ˌsēz
: the presence and growth of tissue similar to endometrium in places other than the uterus and especially in the pelvis and abdomen and that often results in severe pain and infertility
The primary symptoms of endometriosis are pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, backache, dyschezia, dysuria, and infertility.—G. David Adamson, The Journal of the American Medical Association
G. David Adamson, The Journal of the American Medical AssociationAbout 40 percent of infertile women suffer from endometriosis.—Gigi Martino, Science News
see adenomyosis
Gigi Martino, Science NewsLove words? Need even more definitions?
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