What is Endometriosis? > Symptoms
Endometriosis is much more than simple "killer cramps." It can cause symptoms varying from painful periods (called dysmenorrhea), to pain with sexual activity (referred to as dyspareunia), to gastrointestinal and urinary tract difficulties (respectively referred to as dyschezia or dysuria). Infertility is also prevalent with Endometriosis. Some characteristic signs of the disease include:
- chronic or intermittent pelvic pain
- painful menstruation
- infertility, miscarriage, ectopic (tubal) pregnancy
- pain associated with intercourse
- nausea/vomiting, gastrointestinal cramping, diarrhea/constipation, particularly with periods
- rectal pain
- blood in the urine; urinary frequency, retention, or urgency
- Fatigue, chronic pain, allergies and other immune-related issues are also commonly reported complaints in those with Endometriosis
The disease may masquerade as other disorders, and not all women will have all symptoms. Other maladies for which Endometriosis may be mistaken include:
- adenomyosis (sometimes called "Endometriosis Interna")
- appendicitis
- ovarian cysts
- bowel obstruction
- colon cancer
- diverticulitis
- ectopic pregnancy
- fibroids
- inflammatory bowel disease (IBS)
- irritable bowel syndrome
- ovarian cancer
- PID (pelvic inflammatory disease) or sexually transmitted disease(s)
Unfortunately, women and girls often try to "manage" the pain for years with painkillers and other medications, but these only mask symptoms of the disease. Patients are sometimes misled to believe that the only long-term solution is removal of all female reproductive organs - a myth. Endometriosis is not cured by removal of the reproductive organs. This dangerous misconception in the medical field is responsible for countless, needless hysterectomies performed each year.
