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Endometriosis symptoms are often painful and the disease itself is hard to diagnose. Often the symptoms themselves lead to a preliminary diagnosis but the only way to get a definitive diagnosis is physically seeing endometrial lesions inside the abdominal cavity. Laparoscopic surgery is the preferred way to see inside the abdomen to make an accurate diagnosis. Endometriosis is a condition in which the endometrial cells that normally stay in the uterus get into the abdomen. These cells then attach and implant themselves on some of the organs in the abdominal cavity. The most common organs affected include the ovaries, fallopian tubes and large intestine. There are cases where endometriosis symptoms occur when the endometrial cells implant on the lungs, skin, or inside the vagina or bladder; these are rare occurrences though. Endometrial cells, no matter where they are in the body, react to a woman’s monthly hormonal cycle by accumulating nutrient rich blood. In the uterus this is a natural occurrence as it prepares to receive a fertilized egg. Outside the uterus this is not natural. When a woman’s period begins the blood and other nutrient rich material sloughs off the uterus and exits her body. Endometrial cells in the abdomen follow this same pattern except the blood and tissue accumulates in the abdomen since it has no way to leave her body. Many women find that the symptoms of endometriosis do worsen just before and during their period. A woman’s body is able to slowly absorb and remove the excess blood and tissue in her abdomen but it does take time. The excessive amounts of blood and tissue accumulating in the abdomen will begin to cause other health issues before her body is able to remove the offending material. Endometriosis Symptoms – What Causes the Pain and Fatigue Any foreign object or material trapped in the body creates irritation. Think about a splinter stuck in your finger. The bloody tissue trapped in a woman’s abdomen irritates the abdominal wall and organs which leads to the formation of cysts. Cysts can do a number of things including bleeding or bursting which in turn can form scar tissue and adhesions. Internal scar tissue and adhesions are one of the sources of endometriosis symptoms as they can bind a woman’s internal organs together creating discomfort and pain. The most common symptom of endometriosis is pelvic pain, particularly during a woman’s period. In many cases the woman will attribute these symptoms to her period while not understanding that they are being caused by endometriosis. The amount of endometrial cells implanted in the abdominal cavity doesn’t always correspond with the severity of the endometriosis symptoms a woman may experience. Medical research has found that women with small amounts of endometriosis may experience greater pain then women with large amounts of endometriosis. The symptoms may be dependent on where the endometrial tissue is and how sensitive it is to a woman’s hormone levels. Endometriosis symptoms affect many women in different ways. While some women only experience symptoms during the menstrual period others are affected by constant discomfort and pain throughout the month. Discomfort during or after sex is also another common symptom of endometriosis. For many women the pain during sex can be so great that it becomes impossible for them to have sexual intercourse. Another endometriosis symptom that doesn’t affect all women is called secondary dysmenorrhea. Dysmenorrhea is the medical term for painful menstrual cramps. Secondary dysmenorrhea is painful menstrual cramps caused by a physical problem such as endometriosis. When endometrial cells attach themselves to the major organs like the large intestine or bladder it can cause abdominal swelling. The cysts, adhesions and scar tissue created by endometriosis can also cause painful bowel movements and urination, rectal bleeding and nausea and vomiting. One of the more chronic endometriosis symptoms is constant fatigue. The constant discomfort and pain it causes can be exhausting to most women. Factor in the energy the body expends trying to rid itself of the blood and tissue that accumulates in the abdomen and it’s easy to see why it can cause such extreme fatigue. Many women who have endometriosis are at risk for suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome too. Endometriosis Symptoms – Diagnosis and Treatment The first step for any woman to get a proper diagnosis for endometriosis is scheduling an appointment with her gynecologist. Going over the endometriosis symptoms with her doctor can be the first clue that she may indeed have this disease. Only then can a proper treatment plan be put in place to help manage the symptoms it causes. Endometriosis is a disease that affects over 5 million women in North America alone. To learn more about the symptoms of endometriosis and what can be done to treat it please click here.
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