What condition is characterized by the presence of endometrial tissue outside the uterus?

• A. Menorrhagia
• B. Fibroids
• C. Endometriosis
• D. Pelvic inflammatory disease

Answer: (C)

Endometriosis is characterized by the presence of endometrial tissue outside the uterus. This condition occurs when the tissue similar to the lining inside the uterus—called the endometrium—grows outside of it, often on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and the tissue lining the pelvis. This misplaced endometrial tissue continues to act as it normally would during the menstrual cycle, thickening, breaking down, and bleeding with each cycle. However, since this tissue has no way to exit the body, it leads to inflammation, scar tissue formation, and often significant pain, especially during menstruation.

The identification of this condition is crucial since it can lead to complications such as infertility and chronic pelvic pain. The other conditions listed do not share this characteristic; for example, menorrhagia refers to heavy menstrual bleeding, fibroids are benign tumors that grow in the uterus, and pelvic inflammatory disease is an infection of the female reproductive organs, not involving endometrial tissue outside the uterus. This clarity helps in understanding the distinctive nature of endometriosis in the context of women's health.