Endometriosis is a chronic, progressive disease affecting nearly 176 million women of reproductive age worldwide. Symptoms of endometriosis can include pelvic pain, painful periods, pain during intercourse, abnormal bleeding, gastrointestinal symptoms, and infertility.
Abnormal Hormone Levels
Another sign of asymptomatic endometriosis is a hormonal change. Doctors can conduct a blood test to check for abnormalities in hormone levels. Endometriosis affects progesterone and estrogen levels. These hormones support pregnancy, so abnormalities may make it hard for females to conceive.
Some women with endometriosis do not experience pain and are diagnosed only if a doctor happens to notice abnormal tissue during a different procedure, such as tubal sterilization.
On average, it takes 7.5 years for a woman to be diagnosed with endometriosis. More must be done to recognise and understand the symptoms of endometriosis and to encourage women to voice concerns about their health. No woman should suffer in silence.
Endometriosis does not resolve on its own. If you experience pain and other symptoms, these symptoms will remain unless you receive treatment. In some cases, your symptoms may get worse. In addition to pelvic pain, infertility is another common complication of endometriosis.
Even more concerning than the pain, heavy bleeding, and life-interrupting symptoms endometriosis causes, are the additional complications that can arise when the condition isn't treated, including: Infertility (endometriosis is one of the top causes of female infertility) Ovarian cysts and adhesions.
Endo belly is a severely bloated abdomen common in people with endometriosis. Some people say their swelling gets so bad, they look like they're pregnant. “People with endometriosis often have symptoms for years before receiving an accurate diagnosis,” says women's health specialist Megan Billow, DO.
An experienced gynecologist may suspect endometriosis based on a woman's symptoms and the findings during a pelvic exam. Currently, the only way to diagnose endometriosis is through laparoscopy – a minor minimally invasive surgical procedure that is done under general anesthesia (while the patient is asleep).
Endo belly occurs when you have endometriosis and your tummy becomes bloated. It is also called endometriosis bloating. Medications and changes to your diet can help ease your symptoms, as well as treating the underlying condition, endometriosis.
It's estimated that between 20 and 25 percent of women of reproductive age with endometriosis have silent, or asymptomatic, endometriosis.
Surgery is currently the only way to confirm a diagnosis of endometriosis. The most common surgery is called laparoscopy.
If you don't show any symptoms, unexplained infertility may be your only suggestion for the condition. Endometriosis can get worse If left untreated, so seek early treatment. About 20-25% of women with endometriosis are asymptomatic, don't wait for unexplained infertility to seek a diagnosis.
Treatment options
Laparoscopy is the gold standard of treatment for endometriosis. In fact, studies have shown that endometriosis removal has shown to improve fertility. But it is important that excision surgery is performed rather than ablation surgery, because there is a greater risk of the disease growing again.
Less common signs of endometriosis include changes during urination (such as pain and increased frequency) or bowel movements (such as constipation or diarrhea), back pain and abnormal uterine bleeding. Rare signs of endometriosis might include chest pain and difficulty breathing.
A biopsy performed during laparoscopy is often used to confirm a diagnosis of endometriosis. Can a Pap smear detect endometriosis? No, a Pap smear cannot detect endometriosis. A Pap smear is used to diagnose cervical cancer and HPV.
Talk to your doctor or nurse if you think you might have endometriosis. They'll ask you about your symptoms and do a pelvic exam to check for cysts or scars. They may also do an imaging test like an ultrasound or MRI.
During a pelvic exam, your doctor manually feels (palpates) areas in your pelvis for abnormalities, such as cysts on your reproductive organs or scars behind your uterus. Often it's not possible to feel small areas of endometriosis unless they've caused a cyst to form.
People with endometriosis frequently report that their endo bellies are hard, tight, and painful to the touch. As the abdomen is distended, the skin is pulled tight, organs feel like they are pushing into the ribs, and clothes become uncomfortable.
Endometriosis is a chronic condition that causes symptoms such as severe abdominal pain, irregular menstruation, and infertility. Some people report weight gain as a symptom of endometriosis, which may be attributed to abdominal bloating or treatments for the disease.
There not often a super close relationship between the two. Endometriosis is common (10 % of women) and hair loss of various kinds is also common in women. Because both issues are common many women with endometriosis will also mention hair loss. But they are generally separate issues.
Women present to health professionals with a variety of symptoms that may suggest endometriosis, including pelvic pain, painful periods, painful sex, infertility, gastrointestinal and urological problems.
The pain that some people with endometriosis experience is not cyclic. Instead, some people with endometriosis have constant pain, regardless of where they are in their menstrual cycle. People can have endometriosis pain that is persistent and interrupts their ability to partake in their daily activities.
The exact effects of untreated endometriosis depend on the severity of the condition and how long it remains untreated. In many cases , it causes infertility or reduced fertility. It may cause damage to surrounding organs, pain during urination and bowel movements, chronic inflammation, and more.