5 Common Symptoms of Endometriosis

We want to kick off our discussion about endometriosis with two surprising statistics: 

• More than 1 in 10 women between the ages of 15 and 44 in the United States has endometriosis
• There’s a delay of 4 to 11 years between the start of symptoms and the correct diagnosis

Despite how common endometriosis is, you may be wondering why endometriosis is so challenging to diagnose. It comes down to a high degree of what we call variable presentation, which means symptoms can vary greatly from one woman to the next.

Given that March is Endometriosis Awareness Month, our team of gynecology experts at LaSante Health Center thought it would be a good idea to review some of the more common signs of endometriosis here.

Endometriosis basics

Before we dive into the symptoms of endometriosis, we want to give you a little background on this common gynecologic condition. 

The lining of your uterus is called your endometrium, which consists of tissues and cells that play a key role in providing a nourishing environment for implantation and pregnancy. Each month, these tissues respond to your ovulation cycle and thicken in anticipation of receiving a fertilized egg. 

When that egg doesn’t arrive, the tissues shed, creating your menstrual cycles and periods each month.

With endometriosis, these tissues and cells grow outside your uterus, often attaching to other pelvic organs, which can lead to the symptoms and complications we get into next.

Signs of endometriosis

We started this discussion with the fact that endometriosis is historically challenging to diagnose because of the many different ways in which it presents itself. That said, there are some common side effects, starting with:

Painful periods 

Far and away, the leading symptom of endometriosis is pelvic pain, especially during your period. 

The endometrial implants outside your uterus act as if they were inside, thickening with your menstrual cycle, except that when it comes time to shed, they have nowhere to go. As a result, you can experience heightened menstrual pain.

Pain during intercourse

Endometrial tissues can lead to adhesions (scar tissue) in your pelvis that can get tugged during intercourse.

Pain during urination or bowel movements

If endometrial implants attach to your bladder, colon, or rectum, you might experience pain when you urinate or pass stool.

Fertility issues

If your endometriosis affects your ovaries or fallopian tubes, you might encounter issues with getting pregnant. In fact, between 30% and 50% of women who struggle with infertility also have endometriosis.

Gastrointestinal (GI) issues

Women with endometriosis often encounter GI issues, such as bloating, diarrhea, and constipation. These symptoms tend to flare during periods.

This list is far from comprehensive, as symptoms depend on the degree of endometrial tissues that exist outside your uterus and where they’re located.

Our goal here is to get you to take action so we can figure out what’s going on with your health. If any of the symptoms above sounds familiar, we urge you to come see us for an evaluation. Even if we rule out endometriosis, you’re one step closer to the right answer.

For expert diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis, please schedule an appointment online or call us at our Brooklyn, New York, office at 718-246-5700.  We serve the Flatbush and East Flatbush, Crown Heights, Park Slope, Little Haiti, Little Caribbean, and Prospect Lefferts Gardens communities.