Endometriosis and Your Period

Endometriosis can affect any one of us at any stage in life, it is a painful disorder where tissue similar to that which lines your uterus – the endometrium - grows outside of your uterine cavity. Your ovaries, fallopian tubes and the tissue lining of your pelvis are most commonly affected by endometriosis, it very rarely spreads further than your pelvic organs, but it is still possible.

The main cause is when the endometrial tissue grows outside of your uterus, which thickens, and then breaks down and bleeds during each menstrual cycle which often causes severe pain as the menstrual fluid has no way to exit the body and becomes trapped. The hormonal changes in your body then irritate the trapped tissue which becomes inflamed and painful. Eventually the aggravated tissue becomes thicker and causes your organs to stick together.

The most common symptom of endometriosis is pelvic pain which regularly occurs during your period. Many women find that the pain can increase over time or may feel much worse than a menstrual cramp.

Other symptoms include:

Painful periods which may also cause lower back and abdominal pain.

Pain during sexual intercourse.

Pain with bowel movements or urination.

Excessive bleeding.

Infertility.

Bloating, fatigue, diarrhoea or constipation.

It is important to note that the severity of pain doesn’t give a clear signal to the extent of your condition. Many women may have severe pain but mild endometriosis.

Endometriosis is also commonly mistaken for other conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, pelvic inflammatory disease or ovarian cysts.

Can endometriosis stop your period? If your period stops or becomes irregular this isn’t a recognised symptom of Endometriosis, however a popular way of managing the condition is using hormonal contraception such as the pill as this can reduce pain and stop your period all together.

If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, ensure to visit your doctor. Although it can be a difficult condition to have, early diagnosis may result in better management of your condition.