7 Symptoms of Endometriosis You Need to Know

There is no certain number of endometriosis symptoms that every woman with this condition experience. One woman can have a lot of symptoms while others can have none. In case of severe symptoms, it would be easier to diagnose endometriosis. Some women can experience slight symptoms and neglect them. This can lead to complications and advanced endometriosis can even cause infertility. That’s why it is important to perform regular gynecological check-ups and take your health seriously. Moreover, endometriosis symptoms can be vague and this condition can be confused with other diseases.

But the reality is not so simple. You should know that medium time to get an endometriosis diagnosis is 10 years. Moreover, a laparoscopy is the only procedure that can help your doctor with endometriosis diagnosis. To stay on the safe side, it is better to perform a laparoscopy every few years if you experience some endometriosis symptoms. Regular ultrasound and pelvic exam are not useful. In this article, we gathered seven symptoms of endometriosis you need to know.

1. Pain in the pelvic area

Pelvic pain is one of the most common symptoms that women with endometriosis experience. Despite the fact that pain in the pelvic area usually worsens during menstruation, up to 20 percent of women with endometriosis constantly experience it. You should also know that the severity of pain doesn’t always correspond to the severity of the condition. This means that women with severe endometriosis can have little pelvic pain while women with mild endometriosis can suffer from debilitating pain.

2. Severe blood flow and cramps during menstruations

Despite the fact that severe periods can be a symptom of endometriosis, they can manifest other diseases as well. If you experience mild cramps before and during menstruation, it can be considered normal. But endometriosis causes heavier symptoms like severe cramping, nausea, and even vomiting. These painful sensations could be so intense that some women have to avoid any activity. Blood flow during menstruation can also increase. Moreover, your periods can become longer and more frequent. Spotting between periods is also common for women with endometriosis.

3. Pain during sex 

If you experience pain during sex, it could be is one more sign that you have endometriosis. You can experience painful sensations during sex in some poses or when the penetration is very deep. The phase of your menstrual cycle can also affect your sensations. You can experience pain during sex when you have ovulation. This may become a real problem if you want to get pregnant because you will probably avoid sexual intercourse during the time when fertilization is most possible.

4. Problems with bladder

Some women with endometriosis can experience certain problems with bladder such as painful urination and blood in the urine. Increased frequency and urgency of urination are also common. These symptoms occur because endometrial tissue can grow on or inside the bladder and cause bleeding and painful sensations. 

5. Diarrhea or constipation

It seems like diarrhea or constipation can’t have any connection with endometriosis. But the reality is that women with endometriosis can experience these problems with bowels. Moreover, they tend to worsen before and during menstruation. With severe endometriosis, the endometrial tissue can grow on bowels and pinch them. Irritable bowel syndrome is one more condition that is related to endometriosis.

6. Infertility

Infertility is the most serious symptom of endometriosis. More than 50 percent of infertile women were diagnosed with endometriosis. Endometrial tissue grows inside the uterus and fallopian tubes. This can lead to their clogging that makes fertilization impossible. Endometriosis can be asymptomatic in some women and they learn about the disease when looking for causes of their fertility problems.

7. Depression

Despite the fact that endometriosis itself can cause depression, its symptoms can make you feel depressed and overwhelmed. For example, you can be depressed because of infertility or pain during sexual intercourse that is caused by endometriosis. Moreover, constant pain and other unpleasant sensations can be very exhausting.

Consider your family medical history

Although the causes of endometriosis have not been elucidated, a hereditary link to the disease may exist. Some studies show that if your mother or other close relative was diagnosed with endometriosis, you have higher chances to develop it. Moreover, if a first-degree relative has a severe case of endometriosis, it can also aggravate your condition.