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Recognizing Signs & Symptoms of Endometriosis
March is Endometriosis Awareness Month, an important time to bring women, families, and medical communities together to bring awareness to this disease that effects 176 million women worldwide.
What Is Endometriosis?
Endometriosis is a disorder in which tissue – similar to endometrial tissue (the inner lining of the uterus) - spreads to areas outside the uterus, including the ovaries and the Fallopian tubes. In addition, endometrial-like cells may also transport to other parts of the body. This causes extreme pain in the pelvic region. It can also cause cysts, adhesions, heavy periods, bleeding between periods, and infertility.
Common signs and symptoms:
- Painful periods (dysmenorrhea). Pelvic pain and cramping may begin before and extend several days into a menstrual period. Although many experience cramping during their menstrual periods, those with endometriosis typically describe menstrual pain that's far worse than usual. You may also have lower back and abdominal pain.
- Pain with intercourse. Pain during or after sex is common with endometriosis.
- Pain with bowel movements or urination. You're most likely to experience these symptoms during a menstrual period.
- Excessive bleeding. You may experience occasional heavy menstrual periods or bleeding between periods (intermenstrual bleeding).
- Sometimes, endometriosis is first diagnosed in those seeking treatment for infertility.
Other signs and symptoms include fatigue, diarrhea, constipation, bloating or nausea, especially during menstrual periods.
Endometriosis is sometimes mistaken for other conditions that can cause pelvic pain, such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) or ovarian cysts. It may be confused with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a condition that causes bouts of diarrhea, constipation, and abdominal cramping. IBS can accompany endometriosis, which can complicate the diagnosis.
Should you begin displaying any abnormal symptoms or issues with your cervical health, talk to your medical provider to see if further evaluation or testing is needed.
At SIHF Healthcare, we have established a relationship with our patients that make them feel comfortable and educated on any health concerns they may have. Our medical providers spend one-on-one time with you at every visit to learn about any concerns you may have, and we offer a complete line of healthcare services to address your needs.
Set up an appointment today with our caring, specially trained OB/GYN staff. We have several locations offering women’s health services, find the location nearest you by clicking here.