Doctors use symptoms to assist in making a medical diagnosis. Though 50% to 80% of women with endometriosis have pelvic pain, what if you don’t?
Many women with endometriosis go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed due to wide variations in symptoms. They may not get a formal diagnosis until they seek treatment for infertility.
Our team at Obstetricians & Gynecologists, PC, specializes in women’s health, and we know that not all gynecological conditions like endometriosis cause the same symptoms. Here are several little known signs of endometriosis so you know what to discuss with your doctor.
Every month in preparation for pregnancy, the endometrial lining in your uterus thickens. When you don’t get pregnant, the endometrial lining breaks down and sheds through menstruation.
If you have endometriosis, endometrial-like tissue grows outside of your uterus, usually on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and outer surface of the uterus. But the endometrial-like tissue also may grow in other parts of the body, such as your bowels or bladder.
Like the endometrial lining, these growths outside of the uterus thicken and shed in tune with your menstrual cycle, leading to inflammation and scarring of the affected organs.
Because endometriosis mostly affects the reproductive organs, intense menstrual cramps and pelvic pain are the most common symptoms. But not everyone with endometriosis has symptoms or they have atypical symptoms that don’t seem related to the reproductive organs.
Endometriosis symptoms vary in type and severity and don’t always reflect the extent of the condition. Some women with only a few endometrial growths may have severe pelvic pain, while others with multiple growths could have no symptoms at all.
Lesser known signs of endometriosis may occur if growths affect parts of the body other than the reproductive organs. You may experience pain during urination with endometrial growths on the bladder or chest pain with growths in the chest cavity.
Other signs and symptoms of endometriosis you may not associate with this gynecological condition include:
Women with endometriosis are also more likely to be underweight.
Doctors use symptoms, medical history, results from a pelvic exam, and imaging tests to make a clinical diagnosis for endometriosis. They must then perform laparoscopy to make a definitive diagnosis, evaluating the reproductive organs and taking samples of endometrial-like growths for analysis.
Treatment for endometriosis centers around symptom management and slowing the growth of the displaced tissue. Initial treatment usually includes over-the-counter (OTC) pain medication and hormonal birth control. We may also try other medications that reduce estrogen levels to slow endometrial tissue growth.
If medical interventions fail to improve symptoms, we may recommend laparoscopic surgery to remove scar tissue and patches of endometrial growths on the reproductive organs and any other affected areas.
If your symptoms are mild, you may not worry so much about getting a diagnosis. But there’s a link between endometriosis and other health issues that affect women like autoimmune diseases, allergies, and fibromyalgia. Getting an early and accurate diagnosis may uncover other related health issues.
When it comes to your health, all of your symptoms matter, even those you may dismiss as normal (fatigue) or nothing to worry about (diarrhea during your period). Your body is sending signals that something is off and needs your attention.
If you have concerns about your health and can’t seem to get the answers you need, call Obstetricians & Gynecologists, PC, in Hastings or Grand Island, Nebraska, or request an appointment online today. We can uncover the root cause of your symptoms and develop a plan to manage them.
