Endometriotic growths on the bowel or other abdominal organs can cause inflammation that leads to bloating, constipation, and other gastrointestinal symptoms that may contribute to weight gain.
Does having endometriosis make it harder to lose weight? Yes, many women with endometriosis struggle to lose weight with diet and exercise changes alone. However, the hormonal imbalance that contributes to endometriosis and the progesterone-based treatments can interfere with your body's ability to lose weight.
Losing weight with Endometriosis
The first thing that the patient with endometriosis can do is removing the endometrial tissue that grows outside the uterus because this will reduce the pain and also bloating. Doing this treatment will make the patient look thinner and also lose some weight.
Endo belly refers to abdominal bloating linked to endometriosis and can cause discomfort, pain and swelling. Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the lining of your womb (endometrium) starts to grow elsewhere and attaches to other organs, such as your ovaries and fallopian tubes.
The ASRM classification system is divided into four stages or grades according to the number of lesions and depth of infiltration: minimal (Stage I), mild (Stage II), moderate (Stage III) and severe (Stage IV).
Endo belly is the colloquial term for abdominal distension caused by endometriosis. Unlike the short-term bloating that sometimes accompanies your period, endo belly is much more severe, triggering physical, mental, and emotional symptoms.
What causes endo belly? Endometriosis causes endo belly. In endometriosis, cells similar to the lining of your uterus grow in other areas of your pelvis, abdomen or chest. During your menstrual cycle, these cells and the nearby organs and tissues become inflamed.
When it comes to endo belly, diet and gut health is an essential component to explore. The “endo diet” or an anti-inflammatory diet are regularly recommended to endo patients: These diets generally eliminate alcohol, gluten, dairy, eggs, soy, red meat, preservatives, artificial sugars, and caffeine.
Endometriosis can have a range of symptoms such as heavy and painful periods, discomfort during and after intercourse and infertility. However, the condition can also cause abdominal bloating and general fatigue which are very common and often overlooked.
Untreated endometriosis can cause significant pain, bloating, excess menstrual bleeding, and digestive distress. Over time, it can also affect a person's fertility. When endometriosis tissue grows outside the uterus, it can affect other organs — especially the ovaries and reproductive structures.
Pain and discomfort
You can expect to feel pain in your lower abdomen for a few days after your operation. The area around your scars may feel particularly sensitive. You may also have pain in your shoulder. This is a common side effect of laparoscopic surgery and will get better over the first 24-48 hours.
Endometriosis can affect women across all ethnic backgrounds and at any age, but it most commonly affects women during their reproductive years between the ages of 25 and 35.
For many, it gets worse as they get older. Other endometriosis symptoms include: Very long or heavy periods. Severe cramps.
Stage IV: This is also known as severe endometriosis. With stage IV, deep implants and dense adhesions are present. There may be superficial endometriosis and filmy adhesions, but the disease is more widespread than in Stage III. Any score greater than 40 indicates severe endometriosis.
There is no cure for endometriosis. Hormone therapy or taking out tissue with laparoscopic surgery can ease pain. But pain often returns within a year or two. Taking out the ovaries (oophorectomy) and the uterus (hysterectomy) usually relieves pain.
Stage 4 endometriosis is not considered to be a fatal disease. However, it can cause dangerous, life-threatening side effects, plus severely hamper your quality of life.
It might be as simple as eating too much too fast, or you could have a food intolerance or other condition that causes gas and digestive contents to build up. Your menstrual cycle is another common cause of temporary bloating. Sometimes a bloated stomach can indicate a more serious medical condition.
Endometriosis is a serious health issue faced by many women, and it can also indirectly cause hair loss. Women have enough on their biological plate to deal, and so while hair loss might seem like an inconvenient man's problem, rest assured it's most likely a temporary dilemma.