Endometriosis is a disease that can affect a number of different areas of the body; symptoms of endometriosis vary with the location of endometrial implants. Endometriosis is misplaced tissue from the lining of the uterus; the tissue travels to different parts of the body and implants. But it continues to behave like endometrial tissue in its new location, bleeding and sloughing off during menstrual periods. This gives rise to a number of symptoms common in endometriosis.
Dysmenorrhea
There are many theories on how endometriosis spreads, but most endometriosis is found near the uterus, in the pelvis. The most common sites for endometriosis are the ovaries, the anterior cul de sac and posterior cul de sac, the uterosacral and posterior broad ligaments, and the posterior part of the uterus. Because of this, pelvic pain during menstrual periods is one of the most common symptoms of endometriosis. Christine Bellantoni, M.D., of Virginia Commonwealth University, states that 25 to 80 percent of women with pelvic pain or painful menstruation have endometriosis. Pelvic pain typically begins a few days before menses begins and continue for several days, according to the Mayo Clinic; back and abdominal pain may accompany pelvic pain.
Dyspareunia
Dyspareunia is painful intercourse. This common symptom of endometriosis is caused by endometriosis on the uterosacral ligament and other structures in the pelvis. Dyspareunia occurs during deep thrusting; pain may continue for several days, according to the Mayo Clinic. Scar tissue caused by repeating bleeding and sloughing of tissues in the pelvic cavity sticks to nearby organs and tissue, binding them in place and making any movement that affects the back of the pelvis painful.
Infertility
Fifty percent of infertile women have endometriosis. While endometriosis is not the only cause of infertility in many of these women, it's a contributing factor. According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), only 2 percent of women with endometriosis get pregnant each month compared to the normal rate of 15 to 20 percent a month. Endometriosis on the ovary may prevent release of an egg each month, or even keep an egg from developing; endometriosis on or in the fallopian tube may block the egg's passage to the uterus. Endometriosis also releases toxins that may prevent fertilization or implantation, ASRM states.
Other Common Symptoms
Excessive bleeding during menstrual periods and bleeding between periods is common in women with endometriosis, according to the Mayo Clinic. Dr. Bellantoni states that gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea, constipation and rectal bleeding occur in up to 50 percent of women with severe endometriosis. Urinary symptoms such as blood in the urine and pain while urinating are also common in women with endometriosis.
