Endometriosis Symptoms

Endometriosis Symptoms

The symptoms of Endometriosis vary from one woman to another but the most common symptom is pelvic pain.

One of the biggest problems regarding Endometriosis is that the signs of this disease in the early stages, appear to be the ‘normal’ bodily changes that take place with the menstrual cycle.

It is only as time goes by that a woman begins to suspect that what is happening, and the symptoms she feels, are not normal. The pain of her menstrual cycle gradually and steadily becomes worse and worse as the months go by. This is only the beginning of what will become a gradual decline in a woman’s general health, as well as the health of her reproductive system.

Having said that, there are odd instances where some women do actually have Endometriosis, but they are nearly free of any symptoms. These women will only be diagnosed by default, for example when they have surgery for other issues, and only then is Endometriosis found. That is what makes this disease so enigmatic.

Endometriosis does not follow any distinct pattern, which is why it is difficult for the medical profession to know that a woman has the disease. Some of the symptoms will mimic those of other health problems, including:

ovarian cysts
ectopic pregnancy
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
irritable bowel syndrome
ovarian cancer
fibroid tumours
colon cancer
appendicitis

The most common symptoms of Endometriosis are:

Pain before and during periods
Pain with intercourse
General, chronic pelvic pain throughout the month
Low back pain
Heavy and/or irregular periods
Painful bowel movements, especially during menstruation
Painful urination during menstruation
Fatigue
Infertility
Diarrhoea or constipation

Other symptoms which are common with Endometriosis include:

Headaches
Low grade fevers
Depression
Hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar)
Anxiety
Susceptibility to infections, allergies

In the later stages of Endometriosis, adhesions usually develop in the pelvic cavity, which are caused by untreated cysts, which can ‘glue’ pelvic organs together. These adhesions will seriously interfere with normal functions of organs in the pelvis, causing bowel obstructions, digestive problems, infertility, urinary problems, agonizing pains when the adhesions are pulled, mobility problems.

As Endometriosis develops a woman’s immune system becomes more and more impaired and this leads to further health problems. Due to increased research, as well as surveys of Endometriosis patients, it is now becoming clear that women with the disease are susceptible to other serious health problems including:

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (100 times more common in women with endometriosis)
ME Hypothyroidism - under-active Thyroid gland (7 times more common in women with endometriosis)
Fibromyalgia
Rheumatoid arthritis

Some of these findings are from data of the world’s largest research registry on Endometriosis, which includes figures for the women with the disease, as well as members of her family. These figures are not conclusive and do not give the whole picture to include geography, economics etc. They do show that women with Endometriosis are slightly more susceptible to these other diseases, but other members of their family seem to have a higher percentage of risk to develop these diseases. So we could be looking at environmental health issues here, rather than the results relating solely to Endometriosis.

It does seem clear that as women with Endometriosis are more receptive to other health problems, then their immune system is the key to their problems.

No two women will have the same symptoms for Endometriosis, and will not suffer the same knock-on health problems, but the most common symptom experienced among Endometriosis sufferers is acute pain.

In some instances the pain of Endometriosis can prohibit a woman to partake in every day activities as well as her ability to sustain a career.

What you can do to help yourself

For advice on different ways to deal with the pain of Endometriosis read the advice here of the different things you can do.

Many women are seeing a great reduction in their symptoms by following the diet for endometriosis. You will find clear and comprehensive advice about the endo diet here

Possible Locations of Endometriosis

symptoms, symptom, signs

Endometriosis symptoms in relation to location of the disease in the body

Reproductive Area Endometriosis

There are various areas where endometrial tissue can develop in the pelvic cavity including:

Ovaries
The outside surface of the uterus
Fallopian tubes
Ligaments supporting the uterus
Internal region between the rectum and the vagina
Lining of the pelvic cavity
Intestines
Bowels
Other organs within the abdomen

Pelvic pain

Pelvic pain is one of the most common symptoms of Endometriosis. The pelvic pain of Endometriosis can be excruciating and debilitating for many women. It may be experienced constantly, it may be intermittent or it may be related solely to the menstrual period. Pain can be provoked by certain activities such as walking, standing too long etc., or it may occur unpredictably.

Occasionally abdominal and pelvic pain may be caused by Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). These two diseases are quite common together, so it is advised to take note of the times you experience pelvic pain, as it may coincide after meal times.

Lower Back Pain

Lower back pain is another common but poorly recognized symptom that often accompanies period pain. It is commonly associated with endometriosis in the pouch of Douglas, uterosacral ligaments, and rectovaginal septum.

Ovulation Pain

Ovulation pain can occur in women who do not have Endometriosis, but this pain will normally be a small twinge. In women with Endometriosis, ovulation pain can be rather acute. Pain usually begins 12-24 hours before ovulation and may last for a few days. It results from the normal enlargement of the ovary during ovulation which causes stretching of endometrial implants and adhesions lying on the surface of the ovary. The pain is often described as ‘stabbing’ and it may radiate throughout the pelvic area and into the buttocks and thighs.

The Main Reproductive symptoms of Endometriosis are:

Chronic or intermittent pelvic pain
Ectopic (tubal) pregnancy
Dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation is not normal!)
Infertility
Miscarriage(s)
Painful ovulation

Uterosacral/Presacral Nerve Endometriosis

Backache
Leg pain
Painful Intercourse

Cul-de-sac ("Pouch of Douglas") Endometriosis

Dyspareunia (pain during intercourse)
Gastrointestinal symptoms
Pain after intercourse

Gastrointestinal Endometriosis

(rectosigmoid colon, rectovaginal septum, small bowel, rectum, large bowel, appendix, gallbladder, intestinal tract)

The bowel symptoms of endometriosis are often overlooked or dismissed because many people think endometriosis affects only the reproductive organs. Many bowel symptoms are caused by irritation to the bowel from endometrial implants lying on adjacent areas such as the Pouch of Douglas and the back of the uterus, but some are due to endometrial deposits lying on the outside of the bowel wall.

The gastrointestinal disorder which is most common with Endometriosis is Irritable Bowel Syndrome which can cause many of the bowel symptoms mentioned above. Candida has also been found to be prevalent in women with Endometriosis, and this too can cause many distressing digestive upsets and discomfort.

The main gastrointestinal symptoms of Endometriosis are:

Nausea
Diarrhoea
Blood in stool
Bloating
Vomiting
Rectal pain
Rectal bleeding
Tailbone pain
Abdominal cramping
Constipation
Sharp gas pains
Painful bowel movements

For more information on Intestinal endometriosis read this informative article here

Other Locations and Symptoms of Endometriosis

Urinary Tract (bladder, kidneys, urethras, and urethra) Endometriosis
The urinary tract symptoms of Endometriosis are usually the result of endometriosis lying on the outside of the bladder or irritation from endometrial implants lying on the front of the uterus.

The main symptoms of urinary tract Endometriosis are:

Blood in urine
Painful or burning urination
Hypertension
Tenderness around the kidneys
Flank pain radiating toward the groin
Urinary frequency, retention, or urgency

Pleural (lung & chest cavity) Endometriosis
Very occasionally Endometriosis can travel to the lungs, which will give rise to strange symptoms, and are usually relate to the menstrual cycle.

Coughing up of blood or bloody sputum, particularly coinciding with menses
Accumulation of air or gas in the chest cavity
Constricting chest pain and/or shoulder pain
Collection of blood and/or pulmonary nodule in chest cavity (revealed under testing)
Shortness of breath

Sciatic Endometriosis/ Hip pains

Hip pain or pain that radiates from the buttock and down the leg is common in women where endometriosis has affected the sciatic nerve. Also, endometriosis in the groin area can feel like hip pain.

On occasion endometrial adhesions can restrict the hip ligaments, causing pain and limping. Hip joint pain that worsens in a cyclical fashion in line with the menstrual cycle will usually be caused by endometriosis.

Surgical treatment to remove endometrial implants is sometimes undertaken in the hope of relieving the hip joint pain associated with endometriosis.

Skin Endometriosis

Painful nodules, often visible to the naked eye, at the skin's surface. Can bleed during menses and/or appear blue upon inspection.

Dyspareunia (painful sexual intercourse)

Dyspareunia is a common symptom of Endometriosis. Pain may be felt during intercourse as well as up to 48 hours after sexual activity. It is often associated with endometriosis in the pouch of Douglas or adhesions in the pelvic cavity. (see glossary on home page)

Fatigue

Fatigue and Endometriosis seem to go hand in hand. No-one knows what causes the acute fatigue women suffer with Endometriosis, and is not often recognized as a symptom of Endometriosis.

Fatigue can be one of the most debilitating aspects of the disease, and most women with endometriosis experience fatigue around the time of their period and some experience it throughout the month. The fatigue may be related to the constant pain and/or medication, or it could be the bodies reaction to the disease at a deeper level. For advice on how to cope with the fatigue of Endometriosis see this useful article on Endometriosis and Fatigue for advice.

Abdominal Bloating

Abdominal bloating may be a sign of endometriosis. It is thought to be due to inflammation in the pelvic cavity caused by the endometriosis. As mentioned above, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) can cause pelvic pain, and can also cause severe abdominal bloating. With IBS, the bloating is usually caused by intestinal gasses which expand and distend the abdomen and can cause severe pain and discomfort. IBS is very common in women with Endometriosis. For further details of Irritable Bowel Syndrome read this useful article.

For advice about orthodox treatment options please see Treatment for Endometriosis

For advice about dealing with your pain please see Endometriosis and Pain Management

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