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
Recent Examples on the Web
The endometriosis was so extensive that my abdomen was drowning in lesions, scar tissue, and adhesions.
—Nami Mun, The Atlantic, 16 May 2026
Other reasons include severe endometriosis, gender-affirming surgery, severe menstrual blood loss or uterine, cervical or ovarian carcinoma.
—Sandra Rose Salathe, Flow Space, 15 May 2026
An approximated 10% of people with uteruses worldwide who are of reproductive age live with endometriosis, according to the World Health Organization.
—Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 14 May 2026
Roughly 20% to 40% of women with infertility will have endometriosis.
—Francie Ebert, NBC news, 14 May 2026
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Nami Mun, The Atlantic, 16 May 2026
Other reasons include severe endometriosis, gender-affirming surgery, severe menstrual blood loss or uterine, cervical or ovarian carcinoma.
—Sandra Rose Salathe, Flow Space, 15 May 2026
An approximated 10% of people with uteruses worldwide who are of reproductive age live with endometriosis, according to the World Health Organization.
—Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 14 May 2026
Roughly 20% to 40% of women with infertility will have endometriosis.
—Francie Ebert, NBC news, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for endometriosis
Cite this Entry
“Endometriosis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/endometriosis. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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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