| Endometriosis is a disease of the female | | | | of endometriosis in their abdomen may |
| reproductive system. It is often painful | | | | have few symptoms and those with a small |
| and many times is hard to diagnose. In | | | | amount of endometrial tissue suffer from |
| fact a definitive diagnosis cannot be | | | | severe pain. |
| made except by undergoing laparoscopic | | | | Even though many women experience the |
| surgery. Endometriosis occurs when the | | | | symptoms of endometriosis during their |
| endometrial tissue that lines the uterus | | | | time of menstruation many others suffer |
| makes its way to the abdominal cavity | | | | from the constant pain and discomfort no |
| and implants of the organs there. In | | | | matter what time of the month it is. |
| most cases the endometrial cells implant | | | | Many women also experience pain during |
| on the ovaries, fallopian tubes and | | | | or after sex. This pain can get to the |
| large intestine. In rare cases the | | | | point where these women quit having sex |
| endometriosis may spread upward into the | | | | and in some cases the pain can be so |
| sternum and chest cavity. | | | | great that it becomes impossible for |
| This endometrial tissue reacts the same | | | | these women to have intercourse. |
| way to the woman's monthly menstrual | | | | Dysmenorrhea Painful Menstrual Periods |
| cycle as the lining of the uterus, | | | | is another symptom of endometriosis |
| except that when it sloughs off the | | | | where the women experiences deep pain in |
| nutrient rich blood at the start of her | | | | the lower abdomen and vagina. This does |
| period has nowhere to go and accumulates | | | | not affect all women with endometriosis |
| in the abdominal cavity. It is this | | | | though. |
| monthly cycle of the endometrial cells | | | | Because the endometrial tissue can |
| and blood accumulation that causes the | | | | become attached to non-reproductive |
| many symptoms of endometriosis. | | | | organs such as the large intestine or |
| The trapped blood irritates the | | | | bladder abdominal swelling can occur. |
| abdominal tissue which can create cysts. | | | | These women can also experience painful |
| These cysts can bleed or burst and form | | | | bowel movements, painful urination, |
| scar tissue and adhesions. This scar | | | | bleeding from the rectum and nausea or |
| tissue and adhesions can actually tie | | | | vomiting before their period begins. |
| the internal organs together causing | | | | Fatigue is a major symptom of |
| pain and discomfort, particularly during | | | | endometriosis. The constant pain and |
| a woman's period. | | | | discomfort combined with the bodies |
| This pelvic pain is the most common | | | | fight to rid itself of the trapped |
| symptom associated with endometriosis. | | | | menstrual fluid does cause extreme |
| Many women associate this pain with | | | | exhaustion. As the endometrial tissue |
| their period but do not realize that it | | | | grows and expands in the abdominal |
| is caused by endometriosis. In fact, | | | | cavity it causes greater and greater |
| some women with endometriosis experience | | | | fatigue. Women who suffer from |
| little to no pain while others | | | | endometriosis also run a greater chance |
| experience severe pain. | | | | of getting chronic fatigue syndrome. |
| The other interesting thing about | | | | If you suffer from any of these |
| endometriosis is that the amount of | | | | endometriosis symptoms or think you may |
| endometrial tissue growing in the | | | | have endometriosis it is important that |
| abdomen has little bearing on the amount | | | | you schedule an appointment with your |
| of pain a woman may experience. It has | | | | gynecologist. |
| been found that women with large amounts | | | | |