ENDOMETRIOSIS: AN AYURVEDIC VIEW

Endometriosis is one of the benign gynaecological disorders defined by implantation of functioning endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity. The prevalence is about 10 percent. However, prevalence is high amongst the infertile women (30-40%) as based on diagnostic laparoscopy and laparotomy.[1] Endometriosis can occur at any site. The most common sites are the ovaries, the cul-de-sac including the Uterosacral ligaments, peritoneum overlying the bladder, sigmoid colon, back of the uterus, intestinal coils and appendix.[2] The exact cause is still not clear; however, several theories are explained like the implantation theory, metaplasia theory, lymphatic theory, and blood born spread theory, immune deficiency theory, and genetic theory and so on. The endometrium stroma and glands in the ectopic site has got the potentiality to undergo cyclical change. Proliferative changes are constantly evidenced, secretive changes are absent in ectopic endometrium.