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Endometriosis is very common.

About 5.5 million women in North America have endometriosis.¹

It's hard to give a precise figure because lots of women with the condition have no symptoms, so it's not diagnosed. Also, doctors can only find endometriosis by doing a laparoscopy. And you'll probably only have this test if your endometriosis is very painful or you are having a problem getting pregnant.

This is what we know from research:

• Between 2 percent and 22 percent of women have endometriosis, but no symptoms.^{2 3 4 5 6} These figures are guesses based on the number of women whose disease is discovered by accident during surgery.
• Between 40 percent and 60 percent of women with painful periods have endometriosis.^{3 7 8}
• Between 20 percent and 30 percent of women who go for infertility treatment have endometriosis.^{3 7 8}

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment. ©BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2008. All rights reserved.