Some women have experienced endometriosis pain that feels like the ‘Endo’ the world. So, what is Endometriosis and how do you know if that is causing your period pain?
The Problem with Endometriosis
The problem with Endometriosis is the symptoms don’t correlate to disease. What you should know is some women with the most severe pain symptoms have minimal endometriosis disease. Likewise, women with no pain may have widespread endometriosis. In fact, 30-40% of women with Endometriosis, the first knowledge they have it is when they are being investigated for infertility.
Endometriosis, Defined
Endometriosis is the growth of tissue like the lining of the womb growing outside the womb, often on surfaces of other organs in the pelvis. The exact cause of Endometriosis is not well understood. Learn more about the causes here.
Symptoms of Endometriosis
Even today, the vague symptoms of endometriosis make it hard for medical professionals to quickly diagnose. Some women get spotting before a period. What you should look for is the most common symptom – excessive pain leading into periods and pain during periods.
Period Pain
Those women who do experience endometriosis pain, tend to feel
- Back pain
- Pelvic pain
- Abdominal pain
Some women complain of IBS-like symptoms including irregular bowels during menstruation which include bloating, constipation or diarrhoea.
Diagnosing Endometriosis
Surprisingly, 10% of all women of reproductive age are estimated to be affected by it. Universities are trying to develop blood tests and genetic tests, but there is no fast way to diagnose endometriosis. Because the symptoms are vague, it can go undiscovered. For most women, you should know the period pain can be controlled with over the counter pain relievers or prescription birth control.
Useful links
Read more on Endometriosis, what it is, and which treatments are available.