The endometrium is the medical term for tissue that lines the uterus. When the endometrium grows in other areas of a woman's body, the condition is called endometriosis. This abnormal overgrowth of tissue is referred to as implants and may develop on the ovaries, in the bladder, in the pelvic cavity and in the rectum. Some women never experience outward symptoms of endometriosis, though they will show internal signs of the disease.
Pain
Pain is one of the most common symptoms of endometriosis, as explained by the medical team at the University of Michigan Health System. Women who have endometriosis experience pain at varying times and in different areas of the body, according to where the implants are located. Pain during sex, at the time of ovulation and while having a bowel movement can all be associated with endometriosis. Some woman with the condition may experience cramping prior to menstruation but may think it is PMS-related and not realize their discomfort is due to endometriosis.
Bleeding
Bleeding is a sign of endometriosis, due to the breakdown of the nutrient-rich endometrium throughout the body. Bleeding may occur in the form of unusually heavy periods or mid-cycle spotting or after having sexual intercourse. Blood in the urine or stools is also consistent with endometriosis.
Tissue Growth
Diagnostic testing will show clear signs of endometriosis by detecting implants where they should not be growing. Transvaginal ultrasounds may be used as a noninvasive testing method to find the locations of the tissue. Scar tissue may also be found where implants are or have been growing in the past. Laparoscopic surgery may also be performed to locate and remove implants.
Infertility
Perhaps one of the most emotionally wrenching signs of endometriosis is the difficulty that some women have getting pregnant. Scar tissue from implants throughout the pelvic cavity can prevent implantation of a fertilized egg. Infertility may go hand-in-hand with other symptoms and signs of endometriosis, or it may be the only symptom a woman displays.
Duration of Symptoms
Endometriosis affects women of childbearing age. By the time a woman reaches menopause, estrogen levels drop, and many, if not all, of the signs and symptoms of endometriosis subside. Symptoms vary in intensity; some people have pain only during their periods or after sex, while others feel pain every day, all day.
