Beyond Painful Periods: Other Tell-Tale Signs of Endometriosis

It can be so frustrating to suffer monthly because of heavy, painful menstruation. Your doctor may have diagnosed you with simple dysmenorrhea (which is the medical name for painful periods), and advised you to try birth control or take extra painkillers. But what if your body is trying to tell you something more is wrong?

At Women’s Health Care Center of Houston, with two locations in Houston, Texas, our team of women’s health and reproduction specialists can help identify if you have endometriosis. We do a full diagnostic screening based not just on a single symptom like painful periods, but on other signs you may not have been aware of until now.

In honor of Endometriosis Awareness Month, let's take a look at some of the other symptoms this painful condition can cause, and why it might be time for a second opinion to potentially diagnose endometriosis.

Endometriosis basics

Endometriosis is a chronic condition that affects up to 10% of girls and women aged 15 to 44. It starts when endometrial cells (which line the walls of your uterus) start growing outside of the uterus into different areas of the pelvis. 

This typically leads to extremely painful, heavy periods because these cells swell and bleed just like regular endometrial tissue, causing cramping and bloating. This inflames the surrounding tissue and can cause scarring or even adherence of organs to each other or the abdominal wall.

Unfortunately, many cases of endometriosis are missed because pain during menstruation can be easily dismissed as dysmenorrhea. Being diagnosed with painful periods isn’t much help when there is an underlying cause like endometriosis.

Other tell-tale signs of endometriosis

In addition to painful, heavy, and irregular periods, endometriosis may also come with a hefty side helping of other symptoms, including:

• Severe abdominal pain outside your period
• Pain during sexual penetration or after orgasm
• Discomfort or difficulty when urinating or having a bowel movement
• Infertility

Many women don’t get diagnosed with endometriosis until they are seen for another condition, such as ovarian cysts or problems conceiving. It’s estimated that 30-50% of women with endometriosis have fertility issues due to endometrial or scar tissue blocking the fallopian tubes.

A lot of women find it difficult to open up about embarrassing symptoms to their doctor, or have had symptoms dismissed by doctors in the past. At Women’s Health Care of Houston, our specialists take your concerns seriously and will do a complete screening to see if you might have endometriosis.

Are you struggling with what you suspect are endometriosis symptoms? Get in touch with our team by calling 713-365-2900, or visit our contact page for more options.