Talking about “that time of the month” still seems to be a rather embarrassing topic for many women. However, this is a completely normal process and if you have some worries about it, you should definitely discuss them with your mom, sister, and other female friends. Through these talks, you can actually understand whether the things you experience seem to be a bit more excessive and considerably more painful compared to other ladies around you. And if you have any qualms about visiting your gynecologist, these honest talks can give you the helpful nudge you’ve been waiting for.

Again, going to the gyno is no one’s cup of tea, but regular checkups could prove to be crucial for your health and better quality of life, especially if it turns out that you really do suffer from rectovaginal endometriosis – debilitating and very painful condition that overlaps with woman’s cycle, making the period excruciatingly bad.

Eight Things You Should Know About Endometriosis

1. It’s Not Just About a Painful Period

The pain caused by endometriosis is not your typical period of pain. It usually occurs due to the displacement of endometrial cells outside of the uterine cavity. Endometrial cells are part of the uterus lining but when displaced, they could end up on the uterus itself, ovaries, fallopian tubes, bladder, bowels, or pelvic wall. This causes rather extreme pain in the pelvic area.

2. There’s No Rule as to Who Could Be Affected

Unfortunately, the average time period for successfully diagnosing endometriosis is 10 years! Because of that, it’s rather difficult to say just how many women suffer from this condition. What’s more, a clear pattern doesn’t seem to exist between the women who are affected by it. So far, it’s been established that almost 70% of women and teens experience pelvic pain. Still, not all women with endometriosis show the symptoms.Pelvic pain stomachache

3. Endometriosis Cause Theories

Due to the difficulty of creating a clear link between ladies suffering from endometriosis, it’s not possible to be 100% sure as to what the causes of this condition may be. All we’re left with at the moment are theories, and there are a couple of different ones:

  1. The most popular theory, in this case, involves the so-called retrograde menstruation. Normally, the endometrial cells are released through the vagina during the menstrual cycle. Due to the retrograde menstruation, these cells don’t get released, but instead, flow back through the fallopian tubes and into the pelvis.
  2. There’s also the theory that states it’s only normal for some endometrial cells to backflow into the pelvis, but the issue occurs due to the immune system’s ability to clear them properly.
  3. Another possibility involves the spontaneous formation of endometrial cells in the pelvis.
  4. Some people believe that the problem lies in the cells traveling through the bloodstream/lymphatic networks, thus reaching other places in the body.

4. Pain Is the Only Sure Thing

Women suffering from endometriosis tend to experience the symptoms from the early reproductive years. These symptoms usually include the following:

  • Severe pain that accompanies the period
  • Deep pelvic pain during the intercourse
  • Pain that accompanies bowel movements

Endometriosis is a condition with varying stages. Just because someone may be experiencing severe pain doesn’t have to mean that they’re in the advanced stages of this condition. In a similar vein, women with less severe symptoms don’t have to be in the lower stages of endometriosis.

5. Do I Have Endometriosis?

Just because you may be experiencing pelvic pain during your periods doesn’t mean you have endometriosis. It’s important that you never self-diagnose yourself. Pelvic pain could be caused by a plethora of different conditions, such as pelvic floor disorders, constipation, urinary and vaginal infections, ovarian cysts, etc.

So, how can you confirm whether you have endometriosis or not? The truth is that the only full-proof way to discover and diagnose this condition is to get surgery for endometriosis. Basically, the process involves the camera that’s used to get a deeper look into the pelvis in order to spot endometrial cells. This is known as laparoscopy. Endometrial cells appear in a range of different colors such as red, white, black, and brown-yellow. It’s also not uncommon to spot draping tissue or even holes in the pelvis. If these are discovered, the doctor has to take a sample in order to proceed with the biopsy that will provide a clear diagnosis.

6. Endometriosis Is Not PMS! 

Let’s break one of the biggest endometriosis myths. Keep in mind that the symptoms of endometriosis differ from the common symptoms of PMS. Basically, PMS is not endometriosis, even though you might have severe symptoms of it. PMS affects the mood more resulting in mood swings, anxiety, and irritability. The physical discomfort is usually in the form of cramping. These symptoms start mid-cycle. On the other hand, endometriosis symptoms involve severe pelvic pain that typically peaks with the menstrual cycle.Asian woman having painful stomachache

7. Potential Endometriosis Treatments

When we talk about endometriosis, it’s only natural to mention potential solutions for the issue. At the moment, there are a couple of possible treatments:

  1. The most common treatment many women resort to is an over-the-counter medication for pain relief. Most ladies suffering from severe pelvic pain have already tried this before their visit to the doctor.
  2. Hormonal regulation is the next treatment option. Patients should take hormonal pills continuously in order to lighten, skip, or stop their menstrual cycle, and alleviate the accompanying pain that way.
  3. Diagnostic laparoscopy is not the first option when it comes to diagnosing and treating pelvic pain. But if the pain persists and endometrial cells are found during the laparoscopy, and the biopsy confirms the endometriosis diagnosis, these cells can be surgically removed. Sadly, this is not a permanent solution.
  4. Some medications could help alleviate the pain, especially before the surgery, thus inducing the so-called false menopause. That way, endometrial cells lose the signal and die off.
  5. The only permanent treatment that effectively deals with this condition is the complete removal of the uterus, tubes, and ovaries. Obviously, it’s only recommended for women who suffer from endometriosis after menopause.

8. Endometriosis Is a Serious Condition

It’s important to raise endometriosis awareness, especially since many people tend to chuck the condition’s symptoms to a “bad period.” Those who don’t experience these pains often cannot understand the severity of the issue. However, this kind of persistent pain can lower the quality of the affected women’s lives considerably, causing them to miss work/school and social gatherings. It can also create problems in the bedroom.

If you experience pelvic pain or any kind of discomfort in regards to your menstrual cycle, make sure to seek professional help as soon as possible. We are aware that visits to the gynecologist are not always pleasant, which is precisely why at Women’s Care of Bradenton, we do our best to create the most comfortable and warmest atmosphere for our patients. Our experienced and caring staff is there to provide you with the highest quality personal care and excellent medical practice. Women of all ages are welcome to visit our office and book an appointment. After all, it’s our pride and goal to focus on all aspects of female well-being. Reach out to us at Women’s Care of Bradenton for the best obstetrics and gynecology service.