Symptoms of Endometriosis
Endometriosis symptoms include pain (often in the pelvic region but can also be present elsewhere in the body), heavy bleeding during your period, difficulty trying to get pregnant, and other symptoms such as fatigue, nausea, diarrhea, constipation, migraines, and bloating.
Pain Symptoms
“…the severity of endometriosis is not associated with the severity of the pain experienced.”
The most common endometriosis symptom is pain; the type and severity of pain may vary as endometriosis presents in many different ways. It is also important to note that the severity of endometriosis is not associated with the severity of the pain experienced. Sometimes, individuals with severe endometriosis do not experience much pain, while those with mild endometriosis may experience very severe pain.
Types of Pain Common in Endometriosis:
Severe pain during your period (menstruation): Pain in the pelvis that changes with your period (menstrual cycle), and often becomes worse on the days leading up to the start of your period. This is known as Dysmenorrhea. Cramping during your period is quite common and is not necessarily linked to endometriosis. The condition should only be suspected when the pain is much stronger than usual, (i.e., one is not able to perform regular activities such as going to school or attending work) and/or when the intensity of pain gets worse over time.
Pain during sex: Pain during or sometimes after vaginal penetration during sexual activities can be caused by endometriosis. Pain experienced during sexual activities is often called dyspareunia. Typically, the pain associated with endometriosis is felt deeper in the vaginal canal rather than at or near the vaginal entrance.
Pelvic or abdominal pain occurring at times other than your period: Over time, the pain caused by endometriosis can begin happening during other times in your menstrual cycle, such as around ovulation or on the days right before your period starts.
Other pain: If the endometriosis has spread to other organs, it can cause pain in many other areas. This can include but is not limited to pain while pooping or peeing, pain when your bladder is full, lower back or leg pain, and in rare cases chest pain if the endometriosis has spread to the diaphragm or lungs. This pain is typically linked to your menstrual cycle and may be worse when you get your period.
Bleeding Symptoms
Individuals with endometriosis may experience changes in their period flow. The most common change is that their periods become very heavy, and they can experience bleeding outside of their regular cycle.
In rare cases of rectal, bladder, or lung endometriosis, individuals can experience bleeding from the anus, in the urine, or from the nose respectively.
Infertility Symptoms
It may be difficult to get pregnant with endometriosis, but it is NOT impossible.
Other Endometriosis Symptoms
Other symptoms of endometriosis can include fatigue, nausea, diarrhea, constipation, migraines, and bloating. However, these symptoms can be caused by many other conditions and as such, an endometriosis diagnosis is not typically made based on these symptoms alone.