Understanding Endometriosis

While endometriosis is predominantly a disease affecting individuals with a uterus, rare cases in men have been documented — usually as isolated lesions confirmed histologically. These cases are most often reported in men exposed to long‑term estrogen or androgen‑deprivation therapy for prostate cancer, or in other contexts of chronically elevated estrogen levels. Tissue sample studies confirm that endometriosis lesions can develop in men, with proposed explanations including metaplasia and embryonic Müllerian cell rests, though the exact origin in men remains uncertain. As of 2026, a few dozen but fewer than 50 reported cases exist in the scientific literature, making male endometriosis exceptionally rare(ly diagnosed). However, its occurrence is scientifically significant, as it highlights edge cases that challenge conventional (uterus-dependent) models of the disease's origins.

Notably, male endometriosis calls into question the assumptions that endometriosis depends solely on estrogen or originates from menstruation.

Endometriosis in Women of Color

Detection, Disease Extent, and Statistics

This sneaky, chronic inflammatory disease unfortunately exhibits significant racial and ethnic disparities in diagnosis and disease presentation. Research also demonstrates that racialized pain perception (rooted in historical and ongoing biases within medicine) contributes to delayed or dismissed reports of pain among women of color, particularly Black women. Their pain is still partially underestimated compared to their White counterparts. A systematic literature review from 2019 showed that Black women are about 50% less likely to be diagnosed with endometriosis compared to White women, which does not mean that they do not suffer from it. These disparities are not fully explained by biological differences but are influenced by systemic biases, as well as socioeconomic factors and access to accurate healthcare. Furthermore, women of color are underrepresented in endometriosis research, comprising only a small fraction of participants in clinical trials, which limits the generalizability of findings and perpetuates gaps in understanding disease presentation across racial and ethnic groups. For example, 40% of African-American women with laparoscopic evidence of endometriosis were initially misdiagnosed with pelvic inflammatory disease, highlighting misconceptions and the dreaded diagnostic delay. Non-White women in rural areas are less likely to have access to minimally invasive surgical options and more likely to experience surgical complications, further exacerbating health inequities. Endometriosis being a disease of wealthy / industrialized women is a misconception that is gradually losing its hold – not least because of heroic factual reports and sad cases of extreme disease among women of color influencers.

Racial and ethnic minorities face unique challenges in endometriosis detection and management, underscoring the need for culturally competent care and further research into disease presentation across diverse populations.