Your period with PCOS is often irregular or missing altogether, whereas endometriosis symptoms may be heightened before and during your period. With endometriosis, you may experience very painful periods accompanied by severe menstrual cramps, pain in the lower back, or even cause issues in your digestive system.
Endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) both affect females of reproductive age. Both can be painful and disrupt the menstrual cycle through excessive bleeding or irregular periods. However, the causes and some key symptoms are different.
The high testosterone level and metabolic syndrome — a cause of obesity and insulin resistance — that are typical in PCOS can make conception more difficult. Not impossible! Endometriosis likewise reduces fertility, with an estimated 30 - 50% of effected women facing infertility.
Endometriosis is a chronic condition that causes symptoms such as severe abdominal pain, irregular menstruation, and infertility. Some people report weight gain as a symptom of endometriosis, which may be attributed to abdominal bloating or treatments for the disease.
PCOS is the primary cause of hyperandrogenism and oligo-anovulation at the reproductive age and is often associated with infertility 3 and clinical and metabolic disorders 4. The prevalence of infertility in women with PCOS varies between 70 and 80%.
If you can no longer work or earn a living because of your endometriosis, you may be eligible to receive Social Security Disability benefits. These benefits can offset lost income and can help cover the expenses associated with day-to-day living.
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.
Endometriosis occurs when endometrial tissue travels outside the uterus and damages other organs. PCOS, however, occurs when androgen levels are abnormally elevated, and multiple cysts are found in the ovaries. PCOS results in signs of androgen excess and infertility.
Endo belly is a severely bloated abdomen common in people with endometriosis. Some people say their swelling gets so bad, they look like they're pregnant. “People with endometriosis often have symptoms for years before receiving an accurate diagnosis,” says women's health specialist Megan Billow, DO.
Although a majority of cases with PCOS are obese/overweight, a small but significant proportion of patients present with normal body mass index (BMI; ≤25 kg/M2) that makes diagnostic work up and therapeutic approach more difficult. These cases are termed as lean PCOS.
Many women recognise that the food they eat can influence their symptoms (especially the well-known bloated endo belly). Maintaining an anti-inflammatory diet high in good fats, fruits and vegetables and wholegrains may help to manage symptoms of endometriosis and PCOS.
Cysts, scar tissue and adhesions can develop, causing severe pain, especially during periods and leading to infertility. If you are suffering from the effects of Endometriosis you may qualify for disability benefits.
Thyroid Disease
When there is either too little thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism) or too much (hyperthyroidism), these functions can be thrown into chaos, leading to symptoms that are strikingly similar to PCOS.
What are the risks of untreated endometriosis? Untreated endometriosis can cause significant pain, bloating, excess menstrual bleeding, and digestive distress.
Employment support
Endometriosis is a supported condition of the Disability Employment Services program. For more information, speak with APM about how we help people like you find meaningful work and get support to succeed in the workplace.
There is no cure for endometriosis. Hormone therapy or taking out tissue with laparoscopic surgery can ease pain. But pain often returns within a year or two. Taking out the ovaries (oophorectomy) and the uterus (hysterectomy) usually relieves pain.
PCOS appears to be an ancient disorder, which persisted in human evolution despite reduced fecundity because of benefits to affected women such as greater sturdiness and improved energy utilization, a rearing advantage for their children and kin, and a reduction in the risk of perinatal mortality.
Having PCOS does not mean you can't get pregnant. PCOS is one of the most common, but treatable, causes of infertility in women. In women with PCOS, the hormonal imbalance interferes with the growth and release of eggs from the ovaries (ovulation). If you don't ovulate, you can't get pregnant.
The exact cause of PCOS is unknown. There's evidence that genetics play a role. Several other factors, most importantly obesity, also play a role in causing PCOS: Higher levels of male hormones called androgens: High androgen levels prevent your ovaries from releasing eggs, which causes irregular menstrual cycles.
As previously stated, the shape of a PCOS belly differs from other types of weight gain. It often appears large and bloated but can also be small and round, depending on genetics and other factors. The PCOS belly involves the accumulation of visceral fat in the lower abdomen and typically feels firm to the touch.