Endometriosis is a condition which results from the growth of tissue that typically lines the uterus in other parts of the body besides the uterus. Most of the time, this tissue develops in the fallopian tubes and the tissue lining your pelvis and also the ovaries. The problem with the growth of this tissue is that with each cycle, it thickens, breaks down, and bleeds, just like it would in the uterus. However, after the bleeding, the blood becomes trapped and irritates the surrounding tissue, hence the pain.

At times, endometriosis leads to the development of scar tissue, which makes the pelvic organs stick together. Most women tolerate endometriosis for years because they have been socialized to believe that periods should be painful and cannot tell how much pain is too much to be normal. Understanding the symptoms of endometriosis will help one seek a diagnosis and get treated in time.

Dysmenorrhoea

Excessively painful periods, is one of the major symptoms of endometriosis. The pain typically starts a few days before the periods and extends a few days into the periods. The difference between the condition and regular period pains is that dysmenorrhea pain increases as the periods progress, and it involves the entire pelvic region. Most people who suffer from the pain state that it is normally accompanied by severe back pain, nausea and diarrhoea. If you have been experiencing extremely painful periods and have not been successful in managing them with painkillers, it is possible that you are dealing with endometriosis.

Painful bowel movements

Another common symptom of endometriosis is extremely painful bowel movements during your periods. In some cases, the pain is caused by the presence of endometriosis adhesions on different parts of their gut. In other patients, the pain results from the release of inflammatory mediators, which can lead to the formation of new blood vessels or which affect gut muscle contractility, hence the painful bowel movements.

Infertility

Unfortunately, a large percentage of women discover they had a problem with endometriosis when trying to treat infertility. Endometriosis causes scars which block the fallopian tubes and make all pelvic organs stick to each other, lowering fertility. The fimbria, which pick up the egg from the ovary and transport it to the fallopian tube also gets scarred, hampering its function.

It is essential to understand the symptoms which signal the onset of endometriosis. Even though there are many remedies for the symptoms, endometriosis still has no cure. The most important thing is to talk to a competent gynaecologist as soon as you start suspecting that you have the condition as they will help you manage the symptoms in time.

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