What is endometriosis and what are the endometriosis stages? These are frequent questions since nearly 7 million women ages 20's to 40's in the USA alone are affected with this painful and life-altering condition. The pain, cramping and other symptoms that can accompany the endometriosis stages can range from mild, to moderate, to so severe that the woman can hardly function day to day.

What is endometriosis? Endometriosis is defined as the abnormal growth of endometrial cells that spread to areas in the body where they do not belong. Endometriosis tissue islets or implants can grow in the fallopian tubes, within uterine musculature or the outer surface of the uterus, the ovaries, pelvic organs, colon, bladder and the sides of the pelvic cavity. As the menstrual period begins, the islets become larger with blood and the problem is that there's no place for the blood to go except into tissues in the surrounding areas. This leads to inflammation and often much pain.

What is endometriosis and its causes? While the causes of endometriosis symptoms are not understood very well, one of the factors may be related to excess estrogen levels in the body. Endometriosis seems to be a disease of the industrialized countries, and hormone imbalance is more than likely one of the causes.

What are the endometriosis stages? According to Dr. Stanley West, reproductive health physician and author of The Hysterectomy Hoax, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine has categorized endometriosis stages into these stages:

Stage One - few endometrial implants, most often in the cul-de-sac in the woman's pelvic area.

Stage Two - mild to moderate levels of endometrial implants affecting one or both ovaries.

Stage Three - moderate levels of endometriosis with implants in several reproductive areas, perhaps in one or both ovaries.

Stage Four - the most severe of the endometriosis stages with widespread endometriosis implants throughout the pelvic area. The more widespread the endometriosis, the more likely fertility problems will be experienced.

Anyone wanting to know what is endometriosis should learn more about the natural approaches recommended by naturopathic physicians and avoiding more drastic measures such as hysterectomy. Endometriosis ceases to be a problem after menopause, but menopause may be many years away. Although endometriosis is a difficult condition to treat, there are steps any woman can take to reduce the suffering that comes with the various endometriosis stages.

Understand the consequences of hormone imbalance, how excess estrogen levels in the body happen, how to reduce unhealthy estrogen levels and the critical role that natural progesterone performs in helping women regain and maintain hormone balance. If you or someone you know is asking about what is endometriosis and what are the endometriosis stages, read about the successes of Dr. John Lee and other physicians using natural progesterone in reducing endometriosis symptoms and helping women get their health and their lives back again.

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