Why are ovaries the most common site of endometriosis?
A. If we accept the theory that retrograde menstruation is in large part responsible for the initiation of endometriosis in those women susceptible to the implantation of the endometrial cells, then the number one reason is the position of the ovary. The ovaries are adjacent to the opening of the tube in the pelvic area and that location alone will make the ovaries more prone to be contaminated with the regurgitated menstrual flow. The other reason is that the ovaries have the highest level of steroid hormone compared to any other organ and hence they represent an ideal environment for implantation and growth of the endometrial tissue. In different studies, the involvement of the ovaries (either unilaterally or bilaterally) has been reported up to 75 percent of the time.
