Endometriosis Symptoms

Endometriosis symptoms come from a condition that many women can develop during their childbearing years.

The tissue that develops in your uterus, known as endometrium, where fertilized eggs would normally grow, can sometimes grow outside of the uterus.

It is not dangerous to have this tissue grow outside of the uterus, but it can cause pain and other problems.

When these clumps of uterine tissue, referred to as implants, grow outside of the uterus, they usually attach themselves to the ovaries, the fallopian tubes, the outer wall of the uterus itself, the intestines and other organs.

Their growth is normally limited to the belly area, but they have been known to grow elsewhere, in rare cases.

In endometriosis, the implants act just as they would within the uterus. During the menstrual cycle, they grow thicker, break down and bleed.

When they are outside of the uterus, the blood cannot flow out as it would during menses, so the implants become irritated and painful.

They can form scar tissue wherever they are attached, and can even cause cysts to form.

It is not really known what exactly causes endometriosis, but it can be a chronic and long-lasting disease.

Endometriosis is also a very hard condition to predict, and there is no way to tell if it will get better, worse, or last until after menopause. Teens will often suffer chronic symptoms.

Endometriosis Symptoms

Some patients will not have any problems or symptoms, while others will develop mild symptoms or become infertile because of it.

Pain: The pain caused in this condition is due to the growth of the implants, and their inability to be bled out of the body during menses. The pain normally starts as discomfort a few days before the normal menstrual cycle, and is often gone completely by the time it ends.

If an implant has grown in a particularly sensitive area, it can cause constant pain, especially during activities like sex, exercise and bowel movements.

Infertility: It may be caused by scar tissue that has formed and changed the shape and function of the ovaries, fallopian tubes or uterus.

The implants may have blocked the fallopian tubes, preventing or slowing the movement of any eggs. Implants may have surrounded the ovaries, and are blocking eggs from moving into the fallopian tubes.

The implants may have changed the chemical and hormonal makeup in the fluid that surround organs in the abdominal cavity, otherwise known as the peritoneal fluid.

This change can interfere with or prevent the release of eggs, stopping ovulation. It can also prevent a pregnancy from developing within the uterus, and even alter the menstrual cycle.

Abnormal bleeding: The implants may cause pain and bleeding wherever they are located outside of the uterus, usually during the menstrual cycle or by growing too deep in a particular area.

Blood can often be found in the stool and urine, or it may cause spotting before the normal beginning of menses. It can also cause vaginal bleeding after intercourse.

Nutritional Support

Ask your doctor about proper Endometriosis Nutrition and what changes you can make to your diet that might help support better health.

Sometimes an improved, more healthy diet and eating habits can help your body better cope with these difficult health challenges.