What is the Difference Between Endometritis and Endometriosis

The key difference between endometritis and endometriosis is that endometritis is a condition that occurs due to the inflammation of the lining of the uterus, while endometriosis is a condition that occurs when pieces of the uterine lining develop in places other than the uterus.

The endometrium is the inner lining of the uterus. Each month, it thickens and renews by itself, preparing for a pregnancy. If pregnancy does not occur, it sheds in a process known as menstruation. The conditions involved in the endometrium are called endometrial diseases. Endometritis and endometriosis are two conditions that occur in females and affect the inner lining of the uterus (endometrium). However, they are different conditions with different etiologies.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Endometritis  
3. What is Endometriosis
4. Similarities Between Endometritis and Endometriosis
5. Endometritis vs. Endometriosis in Tabular Form
6. FAQ – Endometritis and Endometriosis
7. Summary – Endometritis vs. Endometriosis

What is Endometritis?

Endometritis is a condition that occurs due to inflammation of the uterine lining. It typically occurs due to the migration of microbes from the cervix and vagina upwards, which can lead to inflammation and infection. Endometritis can also be due to sexually transmitted infections and tuberculosis. The symptoms of endometritis may include fever, pelvic pain, vaginal bleeding or discharge, constipation or pain in bowel movements, swelling in the abdomen, and general malaise. If left untreated, endometritis can lead to infertility, pelvic infection, pelvic and uterine abscesses, and septicemia.

Moreover, endometritis can be diagnosed through a pelvic examination, biopsy, blood tests, and looking at vaginal fluid under a microscope. Furthermore, endometritis can be treated through intravenous fluid, antibiotics, and bed rest.

What is Endometriosis?

Endometriosis is due to the growth of tissue that is similar to the inner lining of the uterus outside the uterus. This condition often affects the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and tissue lining the pelvis. Endometriosis can be caused by retrograde menstruation, transformed peritoneal cells, embryonic cell changes, surgical scar complications, endometrial cell transport, and immune system conditions. The common symptoms of this condition may include painful periods, pain with sex, pain with bowel movements or urination, excessive bleeding, infertility, fatigue, diarrhea, constipation, bloating or nausea. Endometriosis can also lead to complications such as infertility and cancers such as ovarian cancer.

Endometriosis can be diagnosed by pelvic examination, ultrasound, MRI scan, and laparoscopy. Furthermore, treatment options for endometriosis may include pain medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen or naproxen sodium, hormonal contraceptives, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (Gn-RH) agonists and antagonists, progestin therapy, aromatase inhibitors, conservative surgery, fertility therapy, and hysterectomy with removal of the ovaries.

What are the Similarities Between Endometritis and Endometriosis?

• Endometritis and endometriosis are two conditions that occur in females
• Both conditions affect the inner lining of the uterus (endometrium).
• Both conditions may lead to complications.
• These conditions can be diagnosed through pelvic examination and imaging testing.
• They can be treated through specific medications.

What is the Difference Between Endometritis and Endometriosis?

Endometritis is a condition that occurs due to the inflammation of the lining of the uterus, while endometriosis is a condition that occurs when pieces of the uterine lining develop in places other than the uterus. Thus, this is the key difference between endometritis and endometriosis. Furthermore, endometritis can be caused by migration of microbes from the cervix and vagina upwards, sexually transmitted infections, and tuberculosis. On the other hand, endometriosis can be caused by retrograde menstruation, transformed peritoneal cells, embryonic cell changes, surgical scar complications, endometrial cell transport, and immune system conditions.

The infographic below presents the differences between endometritis and endometriosis in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.

FAQ: Endometritis and Endometriosis

Can endometritis turn into endometriosis?

Chronic endometritis can be associated with endometriosis.

What happens if you have endometritis?

If you have endometritis, you will get symptoms such as swelling of the abdomen, abnormal uterine bleeding, vaginal discharge, pelvic pain, and lower abdominal discomfort.

Can endometritis be cured?

Endometritis mainly occurs due to inflammation caused by a bacterial infection. Hence, it can be cured by antibiotics.

Summary – Endometritis vs. Endometriosis

Endometritis and endometriosis are two distinct endometrial diseases. Endometritis occurs due to inflammation of the lining of the uterus, while endometriosis occurs when pieces of the uterine lining develop in places other than the uterus. So, this summarizes the difference between endometritis and endometriosis.

Reference:

1. Singh, Neeta, and Ankita Sethi. “Endometritis – Diagnosis,Treatment and Its Impact on Fertility – a Scoping Review.” JBRA Assisted Reproduction, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
2. “Endometriosis.” Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Endometritis – high mag” By Nephron – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Endometriosis” By Vega asensio – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia