Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Endometritis?What Is Endometriosis?Signs and SymptomsCausesDiagnosis and ComplicationsTreatment and OutlookDifference
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is Endometritis?
What Is Endometriosis?
Signs and Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis and Complications
Treatment and Outlook
Difference
Endometritisandendometriosisare two distinct conditions. Their names sound similar because they’re both types of endometrial disease. Theendometrium, or endometrial lining, refers to the lining of theuterus.
Since they both affect the endometrium, endometritis and endometriosis may have similar symptoms, such as pelvic pain and bloating. For this reason, you may not know which condition you have unless you get a medical diagnosis. Like endometriosis, endometritis can cause infertility.
This article will explain the differences and similarities between endometritis and endometriosis. It will also go into detail about the diagnostic processes and treatments for both conditions.
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Endometritis is inflammation or irritation of the endometrium that results from a uterine infection.This condition can be chronic (long-term or recurrent) or acute (short-lived).
If you have chronic endometritis, its long-term impact on the endometrium may make it challenging to get pregnant. Healthy embryos can’t implant and grow when the uterine lining is irritated and inflamed. This cause of infertility is referred to as repeated, or recurrent, implantation failure (RIF).
Chronic endometritis has also been linked to recurrentmiscarriage.
Endometriosis (endo) is the growth of endometrial-like tissue outside of the uterus, where it doesn’t belong. Endo is a chronic condition that ranges from mild to severe.
Endometriosis is a common cause of infertility. It can cause inflammation, adhesions, and scar tissue to form throughout the reproductive tract, including on theovariesandfallopian tubes. Endometrial tissue growth can also affect the bladder,bowel, rectum, and other organs.
Both endometritis and endometriosis may be asymptomatic (cause no symptoms). If symptoms do occur, they can range from mild to severe for both conditions.
There is a significant symptom overlap between endometritis and endometriosis. Abdominal swelling and constipation can be highly indicative of endometritis, particularly if gastrointestinal conditions have been ruled out.Pelvic pain is another common symptom.
Severe pelvic pain and intense menstrual cramps are the symptoms most commonly associated with endometriosis.
Endometritis Symptoms
Endometritis symptoms can include:
Symptoms of Endometriosis
Endometriosis symptomscan include:
Endometritis Causes
The underlying infection that causes endometritis may originate from several initial sources, including:
An endometritis-causing infection is most likely to occur after an event such as:
Causes of Endometriosis
Thecause of endometriosisis not known. It is thought that retrograde menstruation is the most likely cause.
Retrograde menstruation refers to the backward flow of menstrual blood and bits of endometrial tissue into the fallopian tube, pelvis, and other areas of the body. This enables the implantation and growth of endometrial-like tissue cells outside of the uterus.
Several risk factors may make you more likely to get endometriosis. They include:
Theories About Endometriosis Causes
The procedures used to diagnose endometritis and endometriosis may differ from one another. Getting as timely a diagnosis as possible is important for reducing the risk of disease progression.
An endometritis diagnosis can lead to a cure, reducing or eliminating the possibility of infertility. Endometriosis cannot be cured, but treatments can greatly reduce symptoms and complications and enhance quality of life.
Diagnosing Endometritis
Diagnostic testing will also be done to confirm a diagnosis of endometritis or to rule out other conditions, including endometriosis. A healthcare provider may recommend some or all of these tests:
Diagnosing Endometriosis
A definitivediagnosis of endometriosiscan only be obtained through a surgical procedure, such as a laparoscopy.Other tests may be done first, to provide clues as to a potential diagnosis, and to rule out other conditions, including endometritis.
Tests your healthcare provider may do or recommend include:
Getting a diagnosis is the first step toward treatment. Endometritis can be cured. There is no cure for endometriosis. However, treatments can significantly reduce the impact of this disease. Treatments also exist that can improve your chances of parenthood.
Endometritis Treatment
Treatment for Endometriosis
Endometriosis treatmentis geared toward symptom relief and improving pregnancy potential (if desired). The treatments for endometriosis vary based on whether you wish to become pregnant.
A healthcare provider may recommend hormonal birth control if you’re not actively trying to conceive.Hormonal treatments that temporarily stop ovulation may also be used in people who wish to attempt pregnancy after treatment. These include the use of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists.
If your symptoms are severe and don’t improve with noninvasive treatment, surgical removal of scar tissue, lesions, and adhesions may be done.Surgery may provide a window of several years during which you can conceive. However, even after surgery, endometrial tissue typically returns.
What Is the Difference Between Endometriosis and Endometritis?
Summary
Endometritis and endometriosis are separate conditions that may present similar symptoms.
Endometriosis is a chronic condition with no known cause. Retrograde menstruation is thought to be the most likely cause. Genetics may also play a role. This condition is not curable. However, treatments can significantly reduce symptoms like pelvic pain, menstrual cramps, and bloating. Treatments can also restore fertility, at least temporarily.
12 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.University of Florida Health.Endometritis.World Health Organization.Endometriosis.Park HJ, Kim YS, Yoon TK, Lee WS.Chronic endometritis and infertility.Clin Exp Reprod Med. 2016;43(4):185. doi:10.5653/cerm.2016.43.4.185Office on Women’s Health.Endometriosis.Kyejo W, Moshi B, Gidion D, et al.A rare case report of tuberculosis endometritis in a private hospital Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.SAGE Open Medical Case Reports. 2023;11. doi:10.1177/2050313X221150054Shigesi N, Kvaskoff M, Kirtley S, et al.The association between endometriosis and autoimmune diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Human Reproduction Update. 2019;25(4):486-503. doi:10.1093/humupd/dmz014Mount Sinai.Endometritis.Mount Sinai.Abdominal sounds.Mount Sinai.Endometrial biopsy.University of Rochester Medical Center.Erythrocyte sedimentation rate.National Institute of Health.How do healthcare providers diagnose endometriosis?MedlinePlus.Endometritis.
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Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.University of Florida Health.Endometritis.World Health Organization.Endometriosis.Park HJ, Kim YS, Yoon TK, Lee WS.Chronic endometritis and infertility.Clin Exp Reprod Med. 2016;43(4):185. doi:10.5653/cerm.2016.43.4.185Office on Women’s Health.Endometriosis.Kyejo W, Moshi B, Gidion D, et al.A rare case report of tuberculosis endometritis in a private hospital Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.SAGE Open Medical Case Reports. 2023;11. doi:10.1177/2050313X221150054Shigesi N, Kvaskoff M, Kirtley S, et al.The association between endometriosis and autoimmune diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Human Reproduction Update. 2019;25(4):486-503. doi:10.1093/humupd/dmz014Mount Sinai.Endometritis.Mount Sinai.Abdominal sounds.Mount Sinai.Endometrial biopsy.University of Rochester Medical Center.Erythrocyte sedimentation rate.National Institute of Health.How do healthcare providers diagnose endometriosis?MedlinePlus.Endometritis.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
University of Florida Health.Endometritis.World Health Organization.Endometriosis.Park HJ, Kim YS, Yoon TK, Lee WS.Chronic endometritis and infertility.Clin Exp Reprod Med. 2016;43(4):185. doi:10.5653/cerm.2016.43.4.185Office on Women’s Health.Endometriosis.Kyejo W, Moshi B, Gidion D, et al.A rare case report of tuberculosis endometritis in a private hospital Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.SAGE Open Medical Case Reports. 2023;11. doi:10.1177/2050313X221150054Shigesi N, Kvaskoff M, Kirtley S, et al.The association between endometriosis and autoimmune diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Human Reproduction Update. 2019;25(4):486-503. doi:10.1093/humupd/dmz014Mount Sinai.Endometritis.Mount Sinai.Abdominal sounds.Mount Sinai.Endometrial biopsy.University of Rochester Medical Center.Erythrocyte sedimentation rate.National Institute of Health.How do healthcare providers diagnose endometriosis?MedlinePlus.Endometritis.
University of Florida Health.Endometritis.
World Health Organization.Endometriosis.
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Office on Women’s Health.Endometriosis.
Kyejo W, Moshi B, Gidion D, et al.A rare case report of tuberculosis endometritis in a private hospital Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.SAGE Open Medical Case Reports. 2023;11. doi:10.1177/2050313X221150054
Shigesi N, Kvaskoff M, Kirtley S, et al.The association between endometriosis and autoimmune diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Human Reproduction Update. 2019;25(4):486-503. doi:10.1093/humupd/dmz014
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Mount Sinai.Abdominal sounds.
Mount Sinai.Endometrial biopsy.
University of Rochester Medical Center.Erythrocyte sedimentation rate.
National Institute of Health.How do healthcare providers diagnose endometriosis?
MedlinePlus.Endometritis.
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