Objective To observe the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in endometriosis andthe difference between COX-2 in normal endometrium. Methods Expression of COX-2 in 36 ectopic endometrium and eutopic endometrium in endometriosis as well as 25 normal endometrium were detected by immunohistochemistry. Results The expression of COX-2 in the ectopic endometriotic tissues was significantly higher than those in the eutopic endometrium and normal endometrium (P < 0.05). And the expression of COX-2 in the eutopic endometrium was significantly higher than that in normal endometrium (P < 0.05). The expression of COX-2 in the AFS stageⅠ-Ⅱ and Ⅲ-Ⅳ in ectopic endometriotic group was higher than control group (P > 0.05). Conclusions COX-2 may contributed to the pathogenesis of endometriosis.