For most women, a menstrual period comes with a few unpleasant side effects. Cramps, bloating, and fatigue are all common complaints around that time of the month. However, not all of these symptoms should be brushed off as just a normal part of menstruation. They may actually be pointing to a more serious, and difficult to diagnose, condition known as endometriosis. In this condition, cells from the uterine lining remain in the body, instead of being shed. Once there, these cells can implant themselves on other organs, causing painful scarring, inflammation, and even infertility.
Endometriosis affects about 10 million women in the United States. This number may be higher, but endometriosis is difficult to diagnose for two reasons. First, women are often embarrassed to go into detail about their symptoms and just assume that everyone experiences these same issues around her period. Second, a diagnosis of endometriosis can only be confirmed through a surgical procedure. Even though diagnosis can be difficult, it is certainly worth speaking to your doctor about your symptoms. If you are experiencing one or more of the following, it’s probably time to have a conversation:
1) Pelvic pain before, during, or after menstruation or during ovulation
2) Intestinal pain during your period
3) Pain while urinating
4) Pain and/or bleeding during or following intercourse
5) Pain in the lower back region
6) Frequent diarrhea or constipation in connection with menstruation
7) Abdominal bloating in connection with menstruation
8) Heavy or irregular bleeding
9) Fatigue
10) Infertility
Although endometriosis can only be confirmed and fully treated surgically, there is some good news. Birth control pills and anti-inflammatory medications can often help to reduce painful symptoms associated with the disorder. Regulating your diet can also help. Even more interesting is the fact that exercise seems to play a major role in treating the condition. For women who already have endometriosis, high-intensity workouts can help to reduce symptoms. Women in their teens and early twenties can even drastically reduce their risk of developing endometriosis by doing these types of workouts three or more times a week.
For more information, see this
excellent article from Fitness magazine.
Do you think that your period symptoms are more severe than average? How do you cope?
Comments (34)
Endometriosis is a complete bitch.
Thanks for the information. Fortunately, I don't have most of these symptoms.
wow this came up at the weirdest time. mine was so bad a few days ago i had to sit in a hot bath for 2 hours to relieve some pain
my period pain was the result of two dermoid cysts INSIDE my ovaries. I just had them surgically removed Nov 20... and I'm only 21 :/
I experience 5 of the 10 symptoms. Hmmmm....
I also have irregular bleeding and spotting when I do high-intensity workouts.
hmm, this reminds me of polycystic ovarian syndrome. are they somehow related?
@pouttwistsing@xanga - hmm, do you have polycystic ovarian syndrome? because I'm concerned that I might have to get surgery when I'm older too :/
I have about 5 or 6 of these symptons. I sometimes think that I just might have endometriosis, but I can't go and self-diagnose myself like that. I did go to a gynecologist a while back though to ask about my VERY PAINFUL cramps; however, since I didn't have any cysts or anything (supposedly) and I forgot to ask about whether or not I could have endometriosis, she just gave me naproxen for the pain. It bears repeating, I just want my reproductive system out of me already. I don't need it! -_-
OH $#!^ i think i may have it. because at one point or another, i've experienced 7/10 of those symptoms during my period. and my cramps are always very, very painful. and it may well be linked to my sedentary lifestyle. ohh noes D:
Oh my, I have many of these symptoms, I hope I don't have it..
@ivarahBharavi@xanga - polycystic ovaries and dermoid are not
related. you have to be born with dermoid- it's made out of hair, skin,
teeth, bone, etc... some doctors believe that it's the result of an
absorbed twin.
@AphoticxIllusion@xanga - ew.
and luckily I don't get bad cramps when I get my period. However, my sister gets the kind where she can't move the whole day and just has to sit around with a heating pad on her stomach. I feel so bad watching her grimace in pain every five minutes. Hopefully she doesn't have this...
@ivarahBharavi@xanga - They are not the same. Endometriosis is also different from uterine fibroids. These cells don't grow, they attach and they can sort of bind organs together, almost like filament.
@ShimmerBodyCream@xanga - The Fitness Magazine article define intense workouts as things like biking, running, and tennis, done for an hour, three or more times a week. It's a really good article and goes into a lot more detail.@AphoticxIllusion@xanga - Endometriosis is a serious health condition, not an excuse to talk about gross topics and it can impact young women, old women, mothers and non-mothers alike.My cramps get pretty sever. I take and anti-inflamitory that works pretty well... But if I happen to forget it or misplace it I end up vomiting from the pain. Normal? Probably not.. But my docotor has never mentioned anything like this so hopefully I'm in the clear.
My sister has it. Birth control helps, but she won't take them because she wants to get pregnant.
My comment I think may steer slightly away from period cramps, but when I go for a jog despite being an intense one or a more lazy power walking, I get period cramps even though I might not be menstruating. It's usually worse when I am menstruating but it only occurs for approx 5 minutes after I stop jogging. I'm not sure how to prevent it or what is really happening
Oh God, now I'm scared.
My cramps are usually on the brink of unbearable, I have to take painkillers sometimes.
I have almost all those symptoms.=/
I've gone to the doctor about it. They just put me on birth control, which messed up my hormones and led to a plethora of other problems. They never tried to figure out why. Nobody else seems concerned about it. But I worry sometimes.
i get cramps....but then again i realize its flatulence.... HAHA !
Whoa, weird.
I just watched one of those I Didn't Know I Was Pregnant episodes where the woman had endometriosis.
I really only have the lower back pain and fatigue, but I think that's just normal period annoyance.
The first few years I had my period, my menstrual cramps were horrendously painful so if I ever have pain due to endometriosis, I can't even imagine how astronomically painful it'd be.
Wow! I am surprised that the number is so high for the amount of women who is diagnosed with this disease.
Thanks for the info.
thank you for this info. you have no idea how painful it is sometimes. :C
I even tend to vomit during these unbearable cramps.
I seriously hope I don't have this disease!
I have Endometriosis and have 9/10 of those symptoms. I can deal with the incredible pain.. but knowing I'm going to have trouble having children one day haunts me. Thanks for posting this article to raise awareness.
That was interesting. Thanks. I don't have any of those, but I can only imagine what it's like. Ugh.
Ugh, I'm already worried about having endometriosis. thaaaaaaanks.