Endometriosis has not yet been classified as an autoimmune disease but it may increase risk for autoimmune diseases. The inflammatory nature of endometriosis seems to trigger imbalance in the immune system, or the immune system imbalances seems to trigger the growth of endometriosis. We don’t know which comes first.

Endometriosis is one of the most common reproductive disorders, characterized mostly by pain. It occurs when the uterine lining grows outside of the uterus. It is thought to be a endometrial growth issue, but now we know that it is much more complicated than that.

Women with endometriosis, especially premenopausal women, have been shown to be three times more likely to have a heart attack, chest pain, or need treatment for blocked arteries compared to women without endometriosis. We examine what this means for women with this condition.