Source: clevelandclinic.org<\/p>\n
Endometriosis, a gynecological condition affecting the lower abdomen or pelvic area, has a reputation for being super painful. You might assume that if you had it, you\u2019d know it.<\/p>\n
Or would you? Maybe not. This common condition doesn\u2019t always\u00a0make itself known with red flags and flashing lights.<\/p>\n
We talked to reproductive endocrinologist\u00a0Marjan Attaran, MD, to find out what women should know about the signs and symptoms of\u00a0endometriosis.<\/p>\n
1. Period pain is the biggest clue<\/p>\n
Endometriosis occurs when fragments of the tissue that lines the uterus go rogue, growing in places they don\u2019t belong. Those cells can glom onto the ovaries, fallopian tubes or intestine. During your period, those tissues bleed, which may trigger pain and swelling.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe classic symptom of endometriosis is terrible\u00a0period pain\u00a0that doesn\u2019t go away with birth control pills or anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen,\u201d Dr. Attaran says. But not all women with endometriosis have horrible cramps. And not all women with horrible cramps have endometriosis. Intense period pain is a tip-off, not a smoking gun.\u00a0<\/p>\n
2. Endometriosis pain can be fickle<\/p>\n
Most often, endometriosis pain crops up low in the pelvis, Dr. Attaran says. But women can have very different experiences. Some describe the pain as sharp. Others experience a dull ache. Cramps might squeeze just one side of the pelvis, or both, or they might move from side to side. (See what we mean about fickle?)<\/p>\n
3. Sex might hurt<\/p>\n
Many women with endometriosis experience a \u201cdeep\u201d pain during or after sex.<\/p>\n
4. Stomach problems are common<\/p>\n
If cramping wasn\u2019t enough,women with endometriosis sometimes have digestive problems, too. These can include nausea, diarrhea, constipation or bloating, especially during that (least favorite) time of the month.<\/p>\n
4. Some women have no symptoms<\/p>\n
Just because you don\u2019t have excruciating cramps during your period doesn\u2019t mean you can rule out endo. Some women with the condition have mild symptoms, or even no symptoms at all, Dr. Attaran says.<\/p>\n
The symptoms you experience often get worse over time. You might not see any signs until your late 20s, 30s or even 40s. \u201cPeople don\u2019t wake up one day with all of these symptoms,\u201d she says. \u201cThey usually develop slowly as time goes by.\u201d<\/p>\n
5. Trouble getting pregnant<\/p>\n
If you\u2019ve tried\u00a0unsuccessfully to get pregnant, mild endometriosis might be involved.<\/p>\n
Diagnosing endometriosis would be a lot easier if there were red flags. But for many women, it\u2019s more of a gray area. \u201cIt\u2019s a frustrating disease,\u201d Dr. Attaran says. \u201cBut if you have symptoms, it\u2019s worth following through to get the diagnosis so you can be active about managing the disease.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2832,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[389,1458,1459,427,113],"class_list":["post-2831","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-endometriosis","tag-gynecological","tag-painful","tag-symptoms","tag-women"],"yoast_head":"\n