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.
“…the severity of the condition does not always correlate with the severity of the pain.”
Pain Symptoms
The most common symptom associated with endometriosis 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 the condition does not always correlate with the severity of the pain. 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 menstrual pain (Dysmenorrhea): The most common form of pain is cyclical pelvic pain that varies during the menstrual cycle, becoming worse on the days leading up to and during menstruation. Cramping during menstruation is quite common and is not necessarily linked to endometriosis. The condition should 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 sexual intercourse (Dyspareunia): Pain during or sometimes after intercourse can be caused by endometriosis. Typically, pain associated with endometriosis is referred to as deep dyspareunia (i.e., pain with deep penetration) as opposed to superficial pain or pain at the vaginal entrance.
Non-cyclical pelvic or abdominal pain: With time, pain caused by endometriosis can extend to other phases of the cycle, typically around ovulation or on the days preceding menstrual bleeding.
Other pain: If the endometriosis has spread to the other organs it can cause pain in many other areas. This can include but is not limited to pain with bowel motions, pain with a full bladder or during urination, lower back and leg pain and, in rare cases of endometriosis on the diaphragm or lungs, upper abdomen and chest pain. Pain tends to be cyclical, where some days are worse than others and it tends to be worse during menstruation.
Endometriosis Bleeding Symptoms
Women with endometriosis may experience changes in their menstrual bleeding patterns. The most common presentations are heavy periods and inter-menstrual bleeding. In rare cases of rectal, bladder, or lung endometriosis, women can experience bleeding from the anus, in the urine, or from the nose respectively.
Endometriosis Infertility Symptoms
It may be difficult to conceive with endometriosis and among those individuals who have pain and difficulty getting pregnant, 70% have endometriosis.
Other Endometriosis Symptoms
Other symptoms of endometriosis can include fatigue, nausea, diarrhoea, 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.