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This condition can cause pelvic pain and difficulty getting pregnant.
Endometriosis Definition: A Painful Chronic Disease Related to the Uterine Lining
Endometriosis is a condition in which tissue similar to the lining of the inside of the uterus — called the endometrium — grows outside the uterus. The most common places for endometriosis to occur are the ovaries, fallopian tubes, bowel, and outside walls of the uterus. Rarely, it can end up as far afield as the kidney, bladder, or lungs.
What Does Endometriosis Pain Feel Like?
Some women with endometriosis experience no symptoms, while others experience pelvic pain or pressure. The first sign or symptom for others is having difficulty getting pregnant.
Signs and Symptoms of Endometriosis
Some women with endometriosis experience severe pelvic pain that can interfere with everyday activities such as bowel movements, urination, and sexual intercourse, and can worsen during menstruation.
Endometriosis symptoms may include heavy or painful periods; pain in the intestines or lower abdomen, spotting or bleeding between menstrual periods, fatigue, diarrhea, constipation, nausea or distension, especially during menstruation.
Talk to your doctor if you're experiencing any of these symptoms. There's no cure for endometriosis, but several treatment options may help reduce pain or increase your chances of getting pregnant.
Learn More About Endometriosis Symptoms and Diagnosis
How Common Is Endometriosis in the United States?
While endometriosis is considered a common condition, it's difficult to know for sure how many women have it, because some women have no symptoms. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) estimates that endometriosis affects about 1 in 10 women of reproductive age in the United States. That's about 5 million women. Endometriosis is most common in women in their thirties and forties, but can happen to any woman after menarche or first period.
How to Get a Firm Diagnosis of Endometriosis
Diagnosing endometriosis is not easy. At present, an official endometriosis diagnosis requires laparoscopic surgery, during which a doctor removes a sample of tissue, typically via a woman’s navel, which is then biopsied.
It may be tempting for a woman or her doctor to try medications before surgery, but an improvement in symptoms does not equal a proper diagnosis.
Treatments to Help Ease Endometriosis Pain and Other Symptoms
While the disease cannot be totally eradicated, women with endometriosis can reduce significantly the pain and other symptoms through traditional and nontraditional treatments. Changes to diet, exercise routines and lifestyle modifications or complementary modalities such as acupuncture may also help.
Don’t delay talking to your doctor about pelvic or lower abdominal pain or bad periods. You don’t have to endure these symptoms, and getting treated can help improve your overall health and quality of life. Without treatment, endometriosis can lead to long-term problems such as chronic pain; scar tissue and the obstruction issues it can cause; and infertility.
A variety of effective medication options range from nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication (NSAIDs) for pain management, to hormonal therapy such as those delivered via birth control pills, the vaginal ring, or the patch, which can help by stopping tissue growth and lessening pain. A third option, hormones called GnRH agonists, may be used.
Among other factors, appropriate treatments depend on age, the severity of symptoms, and if or when pregnancy may be desired.
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