Endometriosis is a disorder in which tissue that’s similar to the endometrium (the tissue lining the uterus) grows outside the uterus, causing lesions. Endometriosis is a leading cause of infertility and causes a great deal of suffering to the 10% of all women and adolescent girls who have it. Despite how common it is, there is still a lot that’s unknown about endometriosis, especially some of its lesser known symptoms (hello gastrointestinal problems and nerve pain!) which we’ll discuss in this article.
When my OB/GYN first suggested to me that I might have endometriosis, I wasn’t so sure. I had painful periods, but that was normal, right? (Wrong.) I also didn’t realize that there were many other ways endometriosis can rear its ugly head in a woman’s life.
Many people know the hallmark symptom of endometriosis: pain. (Not as many know that there are varying levels of pain you can experience with endometriosis—or that the level of pain isn’t necessarily correlated to how advanced the endometriosis is.) But everyone knows some of the other common symptoms this strange illness can cause. Here are a few.
1. Endometriosis and gastrointestinal problems
Endometriosis can cause issues with the digestive system and bowels. In fact, Dr. Tamer Seckin, co-founder of the Endometriosis Foundation, calls gastrointestinal (GI) problems one of the “cardinal symptoms” of endometriosis. Specifically, he describes the “gastrointestinal triad of bloatedness, gassiness, and cramps” (sometimes accompanied by diarrhea or constipation) as being symptoms of endometriosis that are especially common around menstruation. He adds painful bowel movements as another cardinal symptom; sometimes, he writes, women with endometriosis are misdiagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) when they actually have endometriosis.
2. When endo causes nerve pain (i.e., neuropathy)
Neuropathy is pain caused by damaged nerves and can be due to endometriosis. According to the Endometriosis Foundation, endometriosis lesions “can pull nerves, or even attack nerves directly.” This attack can cause “a constant, sharp pain,” particularly during physical activity. It’s most common (because of where endometriosis typically occurs) in the pelvis, back, legs and buttock (where the pain radiates from the hip).
3. Fatigue and endometriosis
Fatigue is also a common symptom of endometriosis. In fact, one study found that half of women with endometriosis experience this symptom, possibly due to inflammation caused by endometrial lesions [1]. I was particularly interested to learn about this symptom, as I’ve also been diagnosed with chronic fatigue. Of course, being in pain and suffering from a chronic illness could wear a person out, but there seems to be more going on here; in fact, endometriosis and chronic fatigue syndrome often co-occur [2].
4. Endo and painful sex, endo and painful ovulation (not just painful periods!)
As my endometriosis symptoms grew worse, I started experiencing pain outside of menstruation (although my worst pain was during my period). And, in fact, pain outside menstruation is common among women with endometriosis, who may experience pain during or after sexual intercourse or during ovulation (one reason learning to chart your cycle can be an effective pain management tool). This pain might not show up as cramping, either; you might experience it as hip pain (I did, frequently) or pain in other places that endometrial lesions might show up, like your back or even (rarely) your chest.
5. Premenstrual spotting with endometriosis
Another symptom of endometriosis is spotting that lasts two or more days before the start of the period. This spotting is distinguishable from your period, because it’s very light (not enough blood to fill a pad or tampon) and may differ in color; it could be red blood, but it could be pink or brown. Charting your cycle can identify a pattern of premenstrual spotting that could be a symptom of endometriosis.
Whether you’ve been diagnosed with endometriosis or not, if you’re experiencing these symptoms, there is hope. Many doctors trained in Natural Procreative Technology (NaPro Technology) or other forms of restorative reproductive medicine are also trained in surgical excision of endometriosis. By removing the lesions caused by endometriosis, this treatment can alleviate your symptoms.
While the only sure treatment is surgery, lifestyle changes, such as diet, can also help keep endometriosis symptoms at bay and may even help keep endometriosis lesions from recurring after surgery.
To learn more about how endometriosis can be treated with restorative reproductive technology, watch this short video featuring Dr. Monique Ruberu, a board-certified OB/GYN trained in NaProTechnology:
Treating Endometriosis for Real—Without Birth Control
References:
[1] Ramin-Wright, A., Kohl Schwartz, A., Geraedts, K., Rauchfuss, M., Wolfler, M., Haeberlin, F., von Orelli, S., Eberhard, M., Imthurn, B., Imesch, P., Fink, D. and Leeners, B., 2018. Fatigue – a symptom in endometriosis. Human Reproduction, [online] 33(8), pp.1459-1465. Available at: <https://academic.oup.com/humrep/article/33/8/1459/5040620> [Accessed 22 April 2021]. [2] Boneva R, Lin J, Wieser F et al. Endometriosis as a Comorbid Condition in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS): Secondary Analysis of Data From a CFS Case-Control Study. Front Pediatr. 2019;7. doi:10.3389/fped.2019.00195. Available at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2019.00195/fullAdditional Reading:
Endometriosis, Miscarriage Risk, and Hope for Healing
Managing Endometriosis Pain with Fertility Awareness
Endometriosis and Autoimmune Disease: What’s the Connection?
How to Get an Endometriosis Diagnosis and Find Truly Restorative Treatment
“What causes endometriosis?” and other questions: A Natural Womanhood Endo FAQ
