5 Telltale Symptoms of Endometriosis

Millions of women of reproductive age suffer from endometriosis, a condition that occurs when the lining of the uterus — the endometrium — grows outside of the uterus. This can cause significant pain, cysts, heavy periods, and infertility. 

At his private practice in White Plains and Queens, New York, board-certified OB/GYN Daniel S. Kushner, MD, and our team know how disruptive painful periods can be. We strive to help women learn more about endometriosis through education, diagnostic services, and treatment. 

This troublesome chronic condition causes a number of symptoms. Here are five of the most common signs of endometriosis. 

1. Heavy, painful periods

You’ve probably heard about this well-known symptom of endometriosis. Problems may include: 

• Severe cramps
• Heavy bleeding 
• Passing large clots
• Periods that worsen in severity over time

If you struggle with these troublesome period symptoms, schedule an appointment with Dr. Kushner so we can get started on determining the cause. 

2. Back, abdomen, and pelvis pain 

Endometriosis causes the endometrium to grow where it shouldn’t, like on your ovaries. This can cause extremely painful scar tissue and lesions. 

The pain worsens over time because every month when your period arrives, the invasive tissue growing outside of your uterus thickens and breaks down, just as the tissue inside the uterus does. But the misplaced tissue has nowhere to go, and this often results in acute pain in the pelvis, lower back, and abdomen.

Although less common, pain can develop in other areas of the body as well.

3. Painful sex

Penetration can stretch endometrial lesions and cause sex to be painful. Likewise, women may also experience pain up to a full day after sex. 

Sex should never cause pain. It’s also possible that this symptom could indicate another gynecological issue. If you notice pain during or after intercourse, we encourage you to schedule an appointment with Dr. Kushner to get to the bottom of it. 

4. Tummy trouble

Endometrial tissue grows every month. When you have endometriosis, it sometimes grows on and around your intestinal tract and even on other organs in your abdomen. This can lead to a number digestive problems, including:

• Constipation
• Difficult or painful bowel movements
• Diarrhea

Women with endometriosis are sometimes misdiagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) due to the severity of their digestive symptoms.

5. Fertility issues

Many women first learn about endometriosis after they’ve struggled with months of infertility. In fact, endometriosis is the leading cause of infertility. If you’re having trouble conceiving, endometriosis may be the cause, even in the absence of other symptoms. 

The earlier you see Dr. Kushner for a diagnosis, the more quickly we can get you started on the road to pregnancy. 

If you think you may have endometriosis, or if you have any questions about it, we’d love to hear from you. Schedule an appointment online or over the phone with Dr. Kushner at the New York office nearest you.