No single autoimmune disease causes endometriosis, but research shows strong links, with people with endometriosis having higher rates of conditions like autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's), lupus (SLE), Sjögren's syndrome, multiple sclerosis (MS), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). While the exact cause of endometriosis isn't fully understood, these co-occurring conditions suggest immune system dysfunction plays a significant role in both its development and its effects, potentially involving chronic inflammation and the body's immune response to the endometrial tissue outside the uterus.
Women with endometriosis were found to have a 30-80% increased risk of developing autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and coeliac disease, as well as autoinflammatory conditions like osteoarthritis and psoriasis.
The "worst" autoimmune diseases are subjective but often cited for severity, impact on life expectancy, or organ damage, with top contenders including Giant Cell Myocarditis (highly fatal), Vasculitis (damages blood vessels), Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (Lupus) (multi-organ), Multiple Sclerosis (MS) (nervous system), and Type 1 Diabetes (pancreas, life-long management). Other severe conditions include Scleroderma and Myasthenia Gravis.
Yes, endometriosis can cause bruising, particularly in cases of abdominal wall endometriosis where nodules can swell, cramp, and change color (black, blue, red) with your cycle, and research also suggests a link between endometriosis and underlying mild bleeding disorders, leading to easier bruising. Bruising around surgical sites is also a common, minor post-operative complication.
Emerging research suggests that endometriosis is associated with immune system dysregulation. People with endometriosis have higher rates of other immune-mediated conditions, such as lupus, multiple sclerosis, and inflammatory bowel disease, and a family history of endometriosis .
Adenomyosis, often referred to as the 'evil sister' of endometriosis, is a uterine condition in which endometrial cells from the inner lining of the uterus (the endometrium) migrate from that lining into the muscle wall of the uterus (the myometrium).
Research shows that people with endometriosis have a higher risk of developing lupus, a type of autoimmune disease that affects approximately 10 percent of women of reproductive age.
pain when you poo or pee. pain during or after sex. extreme tiredness (fatigue) pain or bleeding in other areas, such as in the chest, which may cause shortness of breath and coughing up blood.
A pelvic MRI scan produces images (or pictures) from various angles in your pelvis and shows up soft tissues (such as your uterus, ovaries and bladder) very clearly. These images are then reviewed by an experienced radiologist to look for signs of disease and a report is generated.
Endometriosis flare-up
These flare-ups can occur due to hormonal changes, particularly during menstruation. Stress, diet, or lack of rest can also trigger a flare-up. During these episodes, endometrial tissue outside the uterus becomes inflamed, leading to discomfort.
Common symptoms of autoimmune disease include:
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If you have a positive ANA test, an ENA test can check the blood for the presence of antinuclear antibodies that are known to be markers of certain diseases. The ENA test can help your health care team and your rheumatologist diagnose autoimmune diseases such as: Lupus.
Fusobacterium infection facilitates the development of endometriosis through the phenotypic transition of endometrial fibroblasts.
Patients experiencing chronic fatigue related to autoimmune conditions often describe their symptoms as more than just feeling tired during the day. This is significant exhaustion that impacts quality of life and makes it difficult to function on a normal basis.
Finally, endometriosis patients are also at a higher risk of autoimmune thyroid diseases – including both Hashimoto's thyroiditis and Graves' disease.
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).
For many women, the signs of returning endometriosis after hysterectomy or another procedure will appear about two to five years following surgery. Any post-operative management plan must be tailored to the individual patient based on their initial diagnosis, prior treatment and ongoing management strategy.
This pain can feel sharp or stabbing and radiate (move or spread). Nerve damage or irritation can also cause neuropathy, resulting in numbness or tingling, muscle spasms, and weakness. Hip pain from endometriosis may begin in your back or pelvis and spread to your hip, buttocks, or legs.
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Endometriosis is a chronic condition where tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus, causing pain or silent symptoms like bloating, fatigue, and digestive or urinary issues. Chronic bloating. Lower back pain. Fatigue that lingers even after rest.
The yellow circle represents the nucleus of the cell and is the official color of endometriosis awareness. It is reflective of our work in understanding both endometriosis itself and the impact of endometriosis on the person.
Studies have also shown that having endometriosis may increase the risk of also having autoimmune diseases such as SLE, Sjogren's syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune thyroid disorder, celiac disease, multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis), and Addison's disease.
Early warning signs of lupus often include extreme fatigue, unexplained fever, joint pain/swelling, skin rashes (especially a butterfly-shaped one on the face), hair loss, mouth sores, and Raynaud's phenomenon (fingers/toes turning white or blue in the cold). Because these symptoms mimic other conditions, lupus can be hard to diagnose early, but they often come in waves (flares) and affect various body systems.
Lupus and Sjogren's syndrome are both autoimmune diseases. Up to 5.5 million people in the U.S. have been diagnosed with lupus or Sjogren's syndrome. However, Sjogren's syndrome occurs up to three times more than lupus, but one-third of lupus patients also have Sjogren's syndrome.