The Top 3 Signs of Endometriosis

When a condition affects about 11% of women in the United States between ages 15 and 44, you’d think that a diagnosis would be fairly straightforward. 

Unfortunately, that’s far from the case with endometriosis. On average, it takes 4-11 years to get a correct diagnosis after the onset of symptoms.

To help shorten that delay and get women the medical care they need, our team of skilled and experienced women’s health providers at Bayard Street Obstetrics & Gynecology is using this month’s blog to focus on the three main signs of endometriosis. Learning about these common symptoms can help guide you on when to take action and schedule an evaluation.

Endometriosis basics

Before we describe the primary signs of endometriosis, let’s briefly review this common reproductive issue. 

When you have this condition, the tissues and cells that line your uterus to host a fertilized egg — your endometrium — grow outside the uterus. The endometrial tissue may grow anywhere inside your pelvis and often attaches to neighboring organs and support structures, such as your:

• Ovaries
• Fallopian tubes
• The outside of your uterus
• Bladder
• Rectum

Endometrial cells have even been found up near the lungs in some patients, but they usually stay confined to your pelvic cavity.

The problem with these misplaced tissues is that they respond to your menstrual cycles and thicken with ovulation. When this occurs inside your uterus, you shed out the thickened endometrial cells and tissues through your period. Outside of your uterus, however, the tissues have nowhere to go. As a result, adhesions (scar tissue) can form.

Key signs of endometriosis

Now that we’ve set the scene for endometriosis, let’s explore how this condition can affect your health.

1. Pelvic pain

This side effect is arguably the most common and affects between 50% and 80% of women with the condition. The pelvic pain is most often associated with your periods, and you experience heavy cramping during that time.

The pelvic pain associated with endometriosis can crop up in other ways, too, depending upon the location of the adhesions. For example, some women experience painful intercourse as the penetration pulls on scar tissue.

Other women find urination or bowel movements to be uncomfortable, which points to adhesions around the bladder or rectum, respectively. Endometriosis can also lead to dull and nagging lower back pain, which might be constant but also may flare with your periods.

2. Abnormal periods

Another common result of endometriosis is abnormal bleeding, which includes heavy bleeding during your periods as well as spotting between periods.

3. Infertility

This last item on our list is also quite common — between 30% and 50% of women with this condition experience infertility.

There are a number of reasons why endometriosis can lead to fertility issues. Adhesions on your fallopian tubes can block fertilization, or scar tissue around your ovaries might disrupt ovulation.

Getting the diagnosis and care you need

Endometriosis can change your reproductive environment in significant ways and interfere with your ability to have children.

Whether you can check one, two, or all three of the boxes listed above, it’s a good idea to come in to see us. Each of these potential side effects of endometriosis on its own is worth investigating. When you put them all together, it’s very much time to seek our help.

To get that ball rolling, contact us at one of our New York locations — in lower Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Flushing, Queens. You can also request an appointment using our convenient online scheduling system.