Common Symptoms Of Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a common condition in women. It is incredibly painful and quite serious! This condition affects a woman’s reproductive system. Because of this, it can result in severe issues like infertility. It occurs when endometrial tissue is outside the uterus. The tissue will follow a woman’s menstrual cycle of thickening, breaking down, and then bleeding. But because it is not in the uterus, the tissue is trapped inside the woman’s body. Unfortunately, there is no exact cause identified for endometriosis. That said, it is being heavily researched!

Surgery is often recommended to remove this tissue and get rid of endometriosis chronic pain issues. Physical therapy for endometriosis can also help women manage their pain. This kind of pain and other symptoms are discussed in detail below.

Painful Periods

Cramps are common for all women who menstruate. Painful periods are also incredibly common when a woman is suffering from endometriosis. However, the painful periods experienced due to endometriosis is on a different level. It isn’t only severe pain, but also this pain can be debilitating. It can start a few days before a woman’s period begins. The pain can also last up to several days after her period is over as well. Painful periods are the result of the endometrium being unable to exit the body. Instead of exiting, it creates fibrous tissue. This tissue sticks to the nearby organs. It can result in cysts, a buildup of scar tissue, and other issues. Organs may even stick together because it!

Painful Bowel Movements

Most women with endometriosis who experience painful bowel movements are diagnosed with something else first. Most commonly, this is irritable bowel syndrome. This is why talking about other symptoms is crucial for an accurate diagnosis! Women dealing with painful bowel movements may also spot rectal bleeding or pain, as well as intestinal cramping.

Endometriosis causes painful bowel movements due to the fibrous tissue mentioned earlier. This is especially so if that tissue causes a woman’s bowels to attach to her uterus or other reproductive organs. This condition can also trigger other issues like the increase of prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are chemical resembling hormones. While they have benefits, too much can induce muscle cramping and inflammation. Overall, they make for very painful bowel movements!

Constipation Or Diarrhea

Endometriosis can cause women to deal with chronic constipation or diarrhea. These symptoms occur for many of the same reasons as painful bowel movements do when this condition is the cause. Ultimately, the condition and fibrous tissue trigger cytokines. These are inflammatory mediators and they stimulate intestinal mucosa. This stimulation allows invasive bacteria in and triggers inflammation. When this occurs, the immune system of a woman with endometriosis cannot kill the bacteria. This cycle will keep going because these bacteria also release cytokines. Ultimately, this can result in cycles of constipation and diarrhea. Neither of these is a walk in the park to handle!

Nausea And Vomiting

Many women find when they experience intense period cramps, they often feel nauseous as well. This nausea can occur even without endometriosis. However, endometriosis usually worsens nausea. Nausea due to endometriosis is also linked to the bowel issues patients experience. Endometriosis causes increases in invasive and noninvasive bacteria. Both bacteria can force the liver to work harder. If this becomes too much for the liver, the bacteria can trigger nausea. In serious cases, this can progress to vomiting. If nausea does cause vomiting, the body is being put through even more pain. This is because of the force required to expel vomit from the body.

Chronic Fatigue

Recent evidence shows women dealing with more fatigue also tend to have higher rates of endometriosis than those who don’t. This is a change from the past, when fatigue wasn’t considered a symptom. But research shows over half of the women with endometriosis also deal with chronic fatigue. Without endometriosis, only 22 percent suffer from chronic fatigue.

But it is important to understand what chronic fatigue is. Feeling tired occasionally is normal. In fact, it is expected! Fatigue, though, is a lack of energy and motivation. This lack of energy is both physical and mental. It’s even more important to understand that chronic fatigue occurs even with sufficient sleep.