Endometriosis - Symptoms

Symptoms

Pain at the time of menstruation (dysmenorrhea ) is the primary symptom and occurs in nearly all girls and women with endometriosis. Studies suggest that endometriosis is the cause of about 15% of cases of pain in the pelvic region in women.

Timing of Pain. In addition to menstruation, endometrial pain can occur at other times of the month. A survey published by the Endometriosis Association reported the following findings on the timing of endometrial pain:

• 71% of women reported pain within 2 days after their periods started.
• 47% reported pain in the middle of a cycle. (A sharp pain during ovulation may be due to an endometrial cyst located in the fallopian tube that ruptures as the egg passes through.)
• 40% reported pain at other times of the month.
• 20% reported continual pain.
• 7% said there was no pattern.
• Many women with endometriosis experience pain during intercourse.
• Adolescents are more likely to experience pain that occurs both during their periods and at other times in the cycle, while in older women endometrial pain is more likely to occur during menstruation.

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Location of Pain. Nearly all women with endometrial pain experience it in the pelvic area (the lower part of the trunk of the body). The pain is often a severe cramping that occurs on both sides of the pelvis, radiating to the lower back and rectal area and even down the legs.

Occasionally, however, pain may also occur in other regions if endometriosis affects other part of the pelvic area, such as the bladder or intestine.

Severity of Pain. The severity of the pain also varies widely and does not appear to be related to the extent of the endometriosis itself. In other words, a woman can have very small or few implants and have severe pain, while those with extensive endometriosis may have very few signs of the disorder except for infertility. Large cysts can rupture and cause very severe pain at any time.

Other Symptoms

Patients may experience additional symptoms, which include the following:

• Joint and muscle aches
• Fatigue
• Bloating
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Heavy menstrual bleeding
• Headaches
• Depression and malaise (feeling generally low)
• Sleep problems

Review Date: 06/13/2006
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, M.D., Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital