If yourperiodpain feels unmanageable, you might wonder if youre experiencing one of the most common signs ofendometriosis.
So how can you tell whether youre dealing with signs of endometriosis or something else entirely?
Still, experts know enough about the signs of endometriosis to offer some clues.
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What even is endometriosis?
Yourperiodhappens if you dont get pregnant and the walls of your uterus contract to shed that lining.
(This process can changebased on different things like the birth control you may be using.)
This means that endometrial lesions can bleed during your period, which can lead to many signs of endometriosis.
(Well dig into what those signs are in just a bit.)
There are, however, several theories about why this happens, Simpson says.
What are the signs of endometriosis?
There are several reasons for this, Simpson says.
Sometimes endometriosis is misdiagnosed as conditions likeirritable bowel syndromeor pelvic inflammatory disease, theMayo Clinic says.
Theres another incredibly relevant and upsetting reason that endometriosis can take years to diagnose.
It is my experience that pelvic pain is normalized by some medical providers, Simpson says.
Women are given the suggestion that severe pain…is normal.
Endometriosis can cause different types of pain.
The problem with pain is its so subjective, Minkin says.
Its not like theres a pain-o-meter that you might [use].
Equally subjective are the words we use to describe the pain.
Here are the most common types of pain associated with endometriosis.
As for how that pain feels?
However, this pain can also be dull, aching, or stabbing.
Abdominal pain might seem like a vague symptom.
you’ve got the option to, after all, have massive abdominal cramps for many other reasons.
(Which is still way too high a number, for the record.)
If the cells are hanging around near your bladder, theMerck Manual saysyou might experience pain when you pee.
(you’re free to read more about that here.)
As we mentioned earlier, the only way to confirm endometriosis is through a procedure called laparoscopy.
Your provider might also prescribehormonal birth controlto help you manage symptoms.
Birth control pills basically help limit the growth of the lining of the uterus, Minkin explains.
But your doctor would most likely explore the aforementioned treatment options first.
