Endometriosis is a chronic condition that affects 1 in 10 people with ovaries. It can cause pain, infertility and ovarian cysts. For general information on endometriosis, access our patient handout.
We are pleased to provide resources below that were created by endometriosis specialists. Our aim is to provide you with trusted information on the treatments for endometriosis.
Endometriosis occurs when tissue that resembles the inner lining of the uterus (i.e. endometrium) is found outside of the uterus.
Estrogen plays an important role in endometriosis growth. During each menstrual cycle, there is an increase in estrogen within the body. Implants of endometriosis may swell, grow and bleed, just like the endometrial lining inside the uterus. This swelling and bleeding at endometriosis sites causes pain through local inflammation, new blood vessel formation (angiogenesis), and nerve cell formation (neurogenesis).
Oral Progestins (Access handouts here)
GnRH Agonists (Access handout here)
This material is intended for use by Canadian residents only, and is solely for informational and educational purposes. The information presented is not to be used as a substitute for medical advice, independent judgement, or proper clinical assessment by a physician. The context of each case and individual needs differ between patients and this material cannot be applied without consultation with a trained doctor. This material reflects the information available at the time of preparation.
Homepage graphics created by A. Workewych (Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto)