What is endometriosis and what are the endometriosis stages? These are frequent questions since nearly 7 million women in their twenties to forties 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 approaches and begins, these implants swell with blood and bleed into the surrounding areas and tissues. The problem is that there is no place for the tissue and blood to go, and the result is inflammation and pain.

What is endometriosis and its causes? While the causes of endometriosis symptoms are unknown, it appears that high estrogen levels in women contribute to having endometriosis. Endometriosis is more common in the industrialized countries, and women in the USA have the highest levels of estrogen of any country in the world. It often runs in families, and endometriosis incidence is higher in women with poor immune system function. Emotional issues are often involved as well in women with endometriosis. And in all these causes, hormonal imbalance is a common theme among the various factors.

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 womans 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.