Endometriosis is tricky to diagnose because it’s a complex condition. Most women are only diagnosed with endometriosis after seven years from the onset of their symptoms. Endometriosis is a result of the formation of endometrial-like tissue outside the lining of the uterine wall, which can result in adhesion formation and internal scar tissue. This scar tissue can cause the organs within the pelvic region to adhere or stick to each other when they should move independently. As a result, women experience various symptoms, including heavy periods and intense period pain. If you experience heavy periods, you may ask yourself, could it be endometriosis?
How Endometriosis Affects Your Period
If you have endometriosis, your periods will typically be heavy and painful. In fact, endometriosis is one of the top causes of heavy periods, but it isn’t the only symptom of endometriosis. Because endometriosis can affect other organs in your pelvic region, you may experience bloating, diarrhoea, constipation, nausea, and vomiting. Some women also report intense fatigue. Your period may also last longer, and your cycles may become shorter, leading you to bleed more often than every 28 days—and even between periods.
Your period is too heavy if:
- You soak pads and tampons in an hour or less
- You pass large blood clots
- Your period lasts longer than seven days
- Your heavy flow inhibits your daily activities.
As a result of a heavy period, you may even experience fatigue and light-headedness.
Pain and Endometriosis
Heavy periods are also associated with pain. Endometrial-like tissue often grows around the ovaries or beneath the uterus, leading to swelling, pain, inflammation, and scarring. Left untreated, the tissue may continue to grow in and around your other organs, making your periods increasingly painful. It may be difficult to locate the endometrial tissue without thorough examination, which is why it’s essential to track your symptoms, heavy periods, and accompanying period pain or pain not related to your period, to get a more accurate diagnosis. While a certain amount of pain typically accompanies periods, if the pain is debilitating and doesn’t respond to pain and anti-inflammatory medication, you must consider seeing a doctor. You should still be able to continue your day-to-day activities when you have your period.
What Kind of Pain Does Endometriosis Cause?
The period pain accompanied by endometriosis has been described as killer cramps, which explains why it affects your daily activities. These cramps may manifest as intense throbbing contractions or sudden sharp, stabbing pains, which may leave you short of breath. Some women have even described the pain as an electric shock. This pain may not be limited to the reproductive organs; you may experience lower back pain, pain during bowel movements and urination, severe migraines, and deep pelvic pain during intercourse.
If you—or someone you know—experience these symptoms, there’s no good reason to suffer in silence, regardless of the stigma attached. Monitor your symptoms and seek medical assistance from a trained professional. If you feel your doctor is not giving you the care you need, get a second opinion from a specialist…….then get your doctor to refer you for an ‘endometriosis ultrasound’.
References:
https://www.aihw.gov.au/getmedia/a4ba101d-cd6d-4567-a44f-f825047187b8/aihw-phe-247.pdf.aspx?inline=true