In this article, learn more about where endometriosis pain occurs and how to manage endometriosis pain.
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Where Is Endometriosis Pain?
Endometriosis pain can occur in many places in the body.
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It is commonly associated with chronic (long-term)pelvic pain.
People with endometriosis are 13 times more likely to have abdominal pain than those without endometriosis.
A 2021 qualitative study aimed to understand the experience of endometriosis pain by interviewing 20 people with the disease.
What Does Endometriosis Pain Feel Like?
Endometriosis pain is described as follows:
The experience of endometriosis-related pain is very individual.
For example, two people with endometriosis may have different pain sensations in various body areas.
While most endometriosis lesion locations do not correspond to the area of pain, bladder pain is an exception.
Research has found that painful urination is associated with endometriosis lesions on the surface of the bladder.
Upper Body
Some people with endometriosis report chest, lung, breast, and neck pain.
A 2022 study found that people with endometriosis had migraines more frequently than people without endometriosis.
Does Staging Correspond to Pain Severity?
Surgery
Laparoscopicexcision surgeryis the gold standard for endometriosis diagnosis and treatment, generally reducing pain and symptoms.
However, the surgery can be painful in the short term.
Adhesions (scar tissue) from surgery can also cause pain.
This can be physically, mentally, andemotionally challenging.
They may recommend medication, surgery, or a combination of the two options.
Other management options are available.
Additional options can improve some people’s quality of life in the short term.
Hormone medications can reduce current endometrial lesion progression and prevent new endometrial tissue growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Endometriosis frequently co-occurs with other conditions that cause pain.
You may also be misdiagnosed with a different disease but have endometriosis.
If endometriosis is untreated, lesions will continue progressing.
In the long term, this can impact fertility and worsen the pain.
However, certain hormonal medications can slow the progression of current endometrial lesions and prevent new ones from forming.
Endometriosis lesion location does not always correlate to pain location.
In other words, you may have endometriosis lesions on thediaphragmbut feel no pain in this area.
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