The endometrium is the lining of the uterus, but in endometriosis this lining develops on other parts of the reproductive system, such as the ovaries or fallopian tubes, according to MayoClinic.com. Endometriosis symptoms will only appear after age of 50 if the menstrual cycle has not ceased because of pregnancy or menopause. If you experience endometriosis symptoms after 50, the symptoms will be the same as those experienced by younger sufferers.
Pain Symptoms
Pain is the most common symptom of endometriosis, according to The National Women's Health Information Center. The center explains that each month the endometrial lining in the uterus builds up with tissue and blood vessels to prepare for pregnancy. If pregnancy does not occur, the lining is shed during menstruation. In endometriosis, lining in other parts of the body builds up with hormonal changes, too, but when the tissue sheds, it goes into the abdominal cavity, causing inflammation, scar tissue and cysts. As the tissue growths get bigger, they can also cause problems in the bladder and nearby organs. Pain can be experienced throughout the pelvic region, lower back and intestines.
Bowel Symptoms
Though endometriosis only develops on the bowel in less than 15 percent of those with the condition, it still can cause serious symptoms, according to Dr. Ken Sinervo, of Obgyn.net. The bowels are affected when the inflammation that occurs with endometriosis causes tissue changes that can include the growth of new blood vessels and tissue scarring. Endometriosis tissue releases prostaglandins, which are defined by Princeton University as a substance produced within the body in response to trauma, found in body tissues, and that act as a hormone. Prostaglandins can cause the contraction of smooth muscles in the bowel, leading to intestinal cramping and diarrhea.
Menstrual Symptoms
Endometriosis can cause a changes in menstrual symptoms, from heavier bleeding referred to as menorrhagia, to bleeding between periods referred to as menometrorrhagia. These symptoms are often overlooked in women older than 50 because a change in menstrual cycles is often attributed to entering menopause, according to New York Presbyterian Hospital.
