Types of Endometriosis

Doctors describe endometriosis by where the tissue is growing and how deeply. Knowing the type helps plan treatment.

Main types

• Superficial peritoneal endometriosis. Small patches on the thin lining of the pelvis. This is the most common type. It can cause significant pain even though the patches are small.
• Ovarian endometriosis (endometrioma). Cysts on the ovary filled with old, dark blood, often called "chocolate cysts." They can affect fertility and may need surgery if large or painful.
• Deep infiltrating endometriosis. Tissue that grows more than about 5 mm beneath the surface and can involve the bowel, bladder, ligaments behind the womb or the vagina. It often causes severe pain and bowel or bladder symptoms.
• Rare sites. Scar endometriosis after surgery, and, very rarely, tissue in the chest or other distant organs.

A closely related condition

Adenomyosis is when the womb lining grows into the muscle wall of the womb. It causes heavy, painful periods and often occurs together with endometriosis.

Why the type matters

Superficial disease may respond to medicines alone. Endometriomas and deep disease often need an expert surgeon or a specialist centre. Imaging by ultrasound or MRI can often show the deeper types, while superficial patches may be seen only at keyhole surgery.

The classical view. Ayurveda describes painful menstruation and growths in the pelvis under names such as udavarta yonivyapad, kashtartava and granthi, tied to Vata and Kapha. These do not map exactly onto the modern types. Treat them as an interpretive framework, not a diagnosis.

Ask your doctor which type you have and what it means for your plan.