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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Freeh, who is 45, has had endless complications in her years-long quest to have a child, including three procedures to remove endometriosis.
—Heather Grossmann, Parents, 16 June 2026
Doctors soon discovered an ovarian cyst, ectopic pregnancy and endometriosis.
—Jessica Sager, PEOPLE, 14 June 2026
Mansi also directed two episodes − one of which discussed an endometriosis diagnosis, following her own battle with the health condition in 2015 − and earned a Daytime Emmy Award nomination in 2025 for outstanding supporting actress in a drama.
—Joelle Goldstein, USA Today, 25 May 2026
By analyzing the genomes of more than 1.4 million women, including over 105,000 cases, the study identifies 80 genomic regions linked to endometriosis risk, 37 of which are new discoveries.
—Christopher Gardner, Hartford Courant, 18 May 2026
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Heather Grossmann, Parents, 16 June 2026
Doctors soon discovered an ovarian cyst, ectopic pregnancy and endometriosis.
—Jessica Sager, PEOPLE, 14 June 2026
Mansi also directed two episodes − one of which discussed an endometriosis diagnosis, following her own battle with the health condition in 2015 − and earned a Daytime Emmy Award nomination in 2025 for outstanding supporting actress in a drama.
—Joelle Goldstein, USA Today, 25 May 2026
By analyzing the genomes of more than 1.4 million women, including over 105,000 cases, the study identifies 80 genomic regions linked to endometriosis risk, 37 of which are new discoveries.
—Christopher Gardner, Hartford Courant, 18 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 17 Jun. 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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