The signs of endometriosis are there to make you aware of its presence in your body. It is good to know the signs, early diagnosis will enable you to take actions that will arrest and control the condition.
Endometriosis as you have known is a painful condition that happens when tissues similar to the ones lining the walls of the endometrium, grow outside the uterus.
It affects 2 to 10 percent of women of childbearing age.
It is important to note that the tissue that grows outside the uterus in endometriosis, is not the same as endometrial tissue, but they have some features in common.
These tissues can grow anywhere in the body, the ovaries, the Fallopian tubes, ligaments that support the uterus, posterior and anterior Cul-de-sac, and other places outside the uterus.
Experts don’t know the exact cause of Endometriosis. A group of specialists believes retrograde menstruation is a cause. Retrograde menstruation happens when the menstrual blood that contains endometrial cells passes back through your fallopian tubes and into your pelvic cavity.
Signs Of Endometriosis.
These signs should not be ignored, if concerned about any of the symptoms, speak to a doctor right away so you can get early support. The signs include:
- Pain during and after sexual intercourse: Sex will be painful if the endometriosis is behind your vagina in the lower uterus. Sometimes endometriosis can even adhere the vagina to the rectum. Penetration will cause a pull or stretch of the irritated tissue, causing pain.
- Lower abdominal pain and back pain before and after your period: The Endometrial tissue may attach to the ovaries, fallopian tubes, the exterior of the uterus, the bowel, or other internal parts. When your body experiences hormonal change as a result of your menstrual cycle, the tissue breaks down and may cause pain around the time of your period.
- Abnormal and heavy Menstrual flow: Endometriosis can cause heavy menstrual bleeding. Women with endometriosis experience this when the tissue meant to line the uterus is trapped outside it.
- Painful urination during the Menstrual period: In the case of Endometriosis, the blood present in your pelvic region is trapped, the trapped blood will cause irritation in the body along with endometriosis cysts. Thus, the bladder and rectum get pressured and you will begin to feel pain.
- Painful bowel movement during Menstrual period: Women with endometriosis experiencing painful bowel movements describe their pain as sharp, it’s like cuts with razor blades. Painful bowel movements, alongside symptoms of constipation during menstruation are significant signs of endometriosis and its location, the large bowels.
- Tiredness: Endometriosis is associated with heavy menstrual bleeding. A person who regularly loses a lot of blood with high iron like menstrual blood is at a high risk of developing anemia. This is why the patient feels tired all the time.
- Infertility: Endometriosis causes infertility in many ways: It alters the quality of the eggs and causes impaired implantation of a pregnancy, scarred fallopian tubes, inflammation of the pelvic structures, and adhesions of organs.
- Gastrointestinal problems: Endometriosis is often associated with abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, constipation, bloating, painful bowel movements, and vomiting. it differs from patient to patient.
- Severe pain during the menstrual period: Endometriosis-influenced pain is far worse than regular menstrual pain. Any unusual menstrual pain could be endometriosis.
- Pain during or around ovulation: inflammation caused by endometriosis, that affects the ovaries and fallopian tubes and can also cause pain during ovulation.
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