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 musician has also been open about her struggle with endometriosis.
—Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2025
Since the age of nine or ten, Katie Burns has had debilitating pain from endometriosis, a condition where tissue resembling the uterine lining grows outside the uterus.
—Berly McCoy, NPR, 26 Sep. 2025
Because endometriosis can cause urinary symptoms, women with endometriosis may repeatedly end up visiting their doctor with urinary tract infection-like symptoms, only to have their tests come back negative for the infection.
—Korin Miller, SELF, 17 Sep. 2025
This could revolutionize treatments for conditions like uterine cancer, endometriosis, or fibroids, all of which currently lack precise, minimally invasive drug delivery options.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for endometriosis
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Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2025
Since the age of nine or ten, Katie Burns has had debilitating pain from endometriosis, a condition where tissue resembling the uterine lining grows outside the uterus.
—Berly McCoy, NPR, 26 Sep. 2025
Because endometriosis can cause urinary symptoms, women with endometriosis may repeatedly end up visiting their doctor with urinary tract infection-like symptoms, only to have their tests come back negative for the infection.
—Korin Miller, SELF, 17 Sep. 2025
This could revolutionize treatments for conditions like uterine cancer, endometriosis, or fibroids, all of which currently lack precise, minimally invasive drug delivery options.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 5 Sep. 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 3 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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