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. It is believed that there are an estimated 10% of women suffering with the condition in the United States, but many women remain undiagnosed.
While a person can experience endometriosis symptoms suddenly, the condition itself develops over several years. The exact cause of endometriosis is not known. However, it is most likely due to abnormal menstrual flow.
Endometriosis can affect women of any age, including teenagers. It's a long-term condition that can have a significant impact on your life, but there are treatments that can help.
The primary symptom of endometriosis is pelvic pain, often associated with menstrual periods. Although many experience cramping during their menstrual periods, those with endometriosis typically describe menstrual pain that's far worse than usual. Pain also may increase over time.
Endometriosis most often happens in people of childbearing age. This age runs from about 12.5 years old to just after menopause, or about age 51. It only rarely affects a person outside this age range. Researchers don't know whether your risk increases with age.
Studies show that women are at higher risk for endometriosis if they: Have a mother, sister, or daughter with endometriosis. Started their periods at an early age (before age 11) Have short monthly cycles (less than 27 days)
What You Need to Know. Endometriosis affects an estimated 2 to 10 percent of American women between the ages of 25 and 40. Symptoms of endometriosis may include: excessive menstrual cramps, abnormal or heavy menstrual flow and pain during intercourse.
Endometriosis Symptoms
Back pain during your period. Severe menstrual cramps. Pain when pooping or peeing, especially during your period. Unusual or heavy bleeding during periods.
So endometriosis is something that can be a little bit elusive, but we can suspect it based on symptoms that you might be experiencing. If you're having pain with your periods, pain in your pelvis in general pain with intercourse, urination, bowel movements, all of that may point us to a suspicion of endometriosis.
Retrograde menstrual flow is the most likely cause of endometriosis. Some of the tissue shed during the period flows through the fallopian tube into other areas of the body, such as the pelvis. Genetic factors. Because endometriosis runs in families, it may be inherited in the genes.
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 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.
Can endometriosis be seen on an ultrasound? Ultrasounds can show large clumps of tissue that are likely signs of endometriosis. Ultrasounds are also very good at identifying endometriosis of the ovaries. But ultrasounds can't show tiny pieces of tissue that may also be signs of endometriosis.
Other Symptoms: Pain and menstrual irregularities are some of the most common symptoms. Women with endometriosis may also suffer diarrhea, constipation, nausea, abdominal fullness, cramping, and unexplained infertility.
The best results for sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value in the diagnosis of endometriosis are found in women with irregular menstruations during which the pain increases.
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.
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.
Overview. One of the most common gynecological diseases, endometriosis often goes undetected for years because the abdominal pain associated with the condition is mistaken for menstrual cramps, or because there may be no symptoms.
The Pain Is More Than Physical
“As a practitioner, I describe endometriosis pain [as] sharp, stabbing, achey, twisting, or burning, and it may or may not correlate with your period … As a patient, I would [add that] endometriosis pain is like a gut-wrenching bomb that goes off in your insides.
Endometriosis most commonly occurs in the lower abdomen or pelvis, but it can appear anywhere in the body. Symptoms of endometriosis include: lower abdominal pain. pain with menstrual periods.
There's no cure for endometriosis and it can be difficult to treat. Treatment aims to ease symptoms so the condition does not interfere with your daily life.
Lifestyle factors such as alcohol/caffeine intake, smoking, and physical activity influence estrogen levels in the body and, therefore, may impact development of endometriosis.
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.