Endometriosis is a disease that affects at least one in ten women and produces pain and subfertility. The pain can be related to the menstrual cycle or be related to specific activities like pain during and after sex. Pain medications may help quality of life but the diagnosis of endometriosis and effective treatment is rooted in surgical excision and some hormone therapy, which may be mainstream or integrative or holistic in some cases. There is a lexicon of terms that comes with understanding endometriosis including the following:
| Term | Definition | Phonetic Spelling |
|---|---|---|
| Abdominal Cavity | The space within the abdomen that houses the intestines, liver, and other organs. | /ab·doh·mi·nuhl kav·i·tee/ |
| Ablation | The removal or destruction of tissue using heat, laser, or other methods. | /uh·blay·shun/ |
| Adhesions | Bands of scar tissue that bind organs together. | /ad·hee·zhuhnz/ |
| Adenomyosis | A condition in which endometrial-like tissue exists within and grows into the uterine muscle wall. | /ad·uh·noh·my·oh·sis/ |
| Amenorrhea | The absence of menstruation. | /ay·men·uh·ree·uh/ |
| Analgesic | A medication that reduces or eliminates pain. | /an·uhl·jee·zik/ |
| Anovulation | The absence of ovulation. | /an·ov·yuh·lay·shun/ |
| Aromatase Inhibitors | Drugs that inhibit the enzyme aromatase, reducing estrogen levels. | /uh·roh·muh·tayz in·hib·i·terz/ |
| Biopsy | A medical test involving the extraction of sample cells or tissues for examination. | /bye·op·see/ |
| Bilateral Oophorectomy | Surgical removal of both ovaries. | /bye·lat·uh·ruhl oh·uh·fuh·rek·tuh·mee/ |
| Catamenial Pneumothorax | A rare condition where air leaks into the space between the lungs and chest wall during menstruation. | /kat·uh·mee·nee·uhl noo·moh·thor·aks/ |
| Cervix | The lower part of the uterus that opens into the vagina. | /sur·viks/ |
| Chocolate Cyst | Ovarian cysts filled with old blood, also known as endometriomas. | /chaw·klit sist/ |
| CO2 Laser | A laser used in surgical procedures to cut or vaporize tissue. | /see·oh·too lay·zer/ |
| Cul-de-sac | The area between the uterus and the rectum where endometriosis commonly occurs. | /kull·duh·sak/ |
| Deep Infiltrating Endometriosis (DIE) | Severe form of endometriosis that invades deeper tissues. | /deep in·fil·tray·ting en·doh·mee·tree·oh·sis/ |
| Dyschezia | Painful bowel movements, often associated with endometriosis. | /dis·kee·zee·uh/ |
| Dysmenorrhea | Painful menstruation. | /dis·men·uh·ree·uh/ |
| Dyspareunia | Painful intercourse. | /dis·puh·roo·nee·uh/ |
| Endocrinologist | A doctor who specializes in the endocrine system, which regulates hormones. | /en·doh·kri·nah·luh·jist/ |
| Endometrioma | A type of cyst formed when endometrial-like tissue grows in the ovaries. | /en·do·me·tree·oh·muh/ |
| Endometriotic Lesions | Areas of endometrial-like tissue growth outside the uterus. | /en·doh·mee·tree·ot·ik lee·zhunz/ |
| Endometrium | The inner lining of the uterus that thickens and sheds during the menstrual cycle. | /en·do·mee·tree·um/ |
| Endometriosis | A condition where tissue similar to the lining inside the uterus grows outside it. | /en·do·mee·tree·oh·sis/ |
| Endovaginal Ultrasound | An ultrasound test performed via the vagina to get a closer look at the reproductive organs. | /en·doh·vaj·in·uhl ul·truh·sownd/ |
| Estrogen | A hormone that plays a key role in the development of female reproductive tissues and secondary sexual characteristics. | /es·truh·jen/ |
| Excision Surgery | A surgical procedure to cut out endometriosis tissue. | /ek·si·zhun sur·juh·ree/ |
| Fallopian Tubes | Tubes that carry eggs from the ovaries to the uterus. | /fuh·loh·pee·uhn toobs/ |
| Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) | A hormone involved in the development of eggs in women and sperm in men. | /fol·i·kul stim·yuh·lay·ting hor·mohn/ |
| Gonadotropin | Hormones that stimulate the activity of the gonads (ovaries and testes). | /goh·nad·oh·troh·pin/ |
| Gonadotropin-releasing Hormone (GnRH) Agonists/Antagonists | Drugs that reduce estrogen production by affecting the pituitary gland. | /goh·nad·oh·troh·pin ree·lees·ing hor·mohn ag·oh·nist/ |
| Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) | A treatment used to relieve symptoms of menopause by replenishing estrogen and progesterone. | /hor·mohn ree·plays·muhnt thair·uh·pee/ |
| Hysterectomy | Surgical removal of the uterus. | /his·tuh·rek·tuh·mee/ |
| Hysterosalpingography | An X-ray procedure to examine the inside of the uterus and fallopian tubes. | /his·ter·oh·sal·pin·goh·grah·fee/ |
| Implantation | The process by which a fertilized egg attaches to the lining of the uterus. | /im·plan·tay·shun/ |
| In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) | A procedure in which eggs are fertilized by sperm outside the body and then implanted in the uterus. | /in vee·troh fur·tuh·luh·zay·shun/ |
| Infertility | The inability to conceive after one year of unprotected intercourse. | /in·fur·til·i·tee/ |
| Interstitial Cystitis | A chronic bladder condition causing bladder pain and frequent, urgent urination. | /in·ter·stish·uhl si·sty·tis/ |
| Laparoscopy | A surgical procedure involving small incisions and the use of a camera to diagnose or treat conditions. | /lap·uh·ros·kuh·pee/ |
| Laparotomy | A surgical procedure involving a large incision through the abdominal wall to gain access to the abdominal cavity. | /lap·uh·rot·uh·mee/ |
| Laparoscopic Excision | A minimally invasive surgical technique used to remove endometriosis lesions. | /lap·uh·roh·skop·ik ek·si·zhun/ |
| Lupron | A medication used to treat endometriosis by suppressing estrogen production. | /loo·pron/ |
| Menarche | The first occurrence of menstruation. | /men·ahr·kee/ |
| Menopause | The time in a woman’s life when menstrual periods permanently stop. | /men·uh·pawz/ |
| Menorrhagia | Heavy menstrual bleeding. | /men·uh·ray·jee·uh/ |
| Myometrium | The muscular layer of the uterine wall. | /my·oh·mee·tree·um/ |
| Neurectomy | Surgical removal of a nerve or part of a nerve. | /noo·rek·tuh·mee/ |
| Oophorectomy | Surgical removal of one or both ovaries. | /oh·uh·fuh·rek·tuh·mee/ |
| Oral Contraceptives | Birth control pills that contain hormones to prevent pregnancy. | /awr·uhl kon·truh·sep·tivz/ |
| Ovarian Cyst | A fluid-filled sac within the ovary. | /oh·vair·ee·uhn sist/ |
| Ovary | The female reproductive organ that produces eggs and hormones. | /oh·vuh·ree/ |
| Pelvic Floor Dysfunction | A condition where the muscles and tissues supporting the pelvic organs are weakened. | /pel·vik flawr dis·funk·shun/ |
| Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) | Infection of the female reproductive organs. | /pel·vik in·flam·uh·tor·ee dih·zeez/ |
| Peritoneum | The membrane lining the abdominal cavity and covering the abdominal and pelvic organs. | /per·i·toh·nee·um/ |
| Progesterone | A hormone involved in the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and embryogenesis. | /proh·jes·tuh·rohn/ |
| Progestins | Synthetic hormones similar to progesterone. | /proh·jes·tinz/ |
| Rectovaginal Septum | The tissue between the rectum and the vagina. | /rek·toh·vaj·in·uhl sep·tuhm/ |
| Reproductive Endocrinologist | A doctor who specializes in reproductive hormones and fertility issues. | /ree·proh·duk·tiv en·doh·kri·nah·luh·jist/ |
| Resection | Surgical removal of part of an organ or structure. | /ri·sek·shun/ |
| Retrograde Menstruation | The backward flow of menstrual blood into the pelvic cavity. | /re·troh·grayd men·stroo·ay·shun/ |
| Retroverted Uterus | A uterus that tilts backward instead of forward. | /reh·troh·vur·tid yoo·tuh·rus/ |
Robotic Surgery Salpingectomy | Minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery enhanced by robotic tech Surgical removal of one or both fallopian tubes. | /roh·bot·tick sir·jury/ |
| Sonohysterography | An ultrasound procedure to examine the inside of the uterus. | /soh·noh·his·ter·oh·grah·fee/ |
| Subfertility | Reduced level of fertility characterized by unusually long time to conceive. | /sub·fur·til·i·tee/ |
| Transabdominal Ultrasound | An ultrasound test performed through the abdomen. | /tranz·ab·doh·mi·nuhl ul·truh·sownd/ |
| Transcervical | Through the cervix. | /tranz·sur·vik·uhl/ |
| Transvaginal Ultrasound | An imaging test using sound waves to look at the reproductive organs. | /tranz·vuh·jy·nuhl ul·truh·sownd/ |
| Ultrasound | An imaging method that uses high-frequency sound waves to capture live images from inside the body. | /uhl·truh·sownd/ |
| Uterine Fibroids | Noncancerous growths in the uterus. | /yoo·ter·in fye·broidz/ |
| Uterus | The organ in the female reproductive system where a fetus develops. | /yoo·tuh·rus/ |
| Vaginal Atrophy | Thinning, drying, and inflammation of the vaginal walls due to decreased estrogen. | /vaj·in·uhl at·ruh·fee/ |
| Vaginismus | Involuntary muscle spasms in the pelvic floor muscles. | /vaj·in·iz·muhs/ |
| Vulvodynia | Chronic pain or discomfort around the opening of the vagina. | /vuhl·voh·din·ee·uh/ |
Updated Post: July 16, 2024
