Pelvic painis a common symptom ofendometriosis.
How people experience pain withendometriosiscan vary.
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When the pain occurs can also differ from person to person.
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Some people experience no pain or rarely feel pelvic pain.
Others can feel pelvic pain right before their periods, during ovulation, or ongoing.
Two people with endometriosis may describe their pain very differently.
The pain levels can’t be measured objectively.
Normal cramping during menstruation is light, and discomfort can usually be managed with over-the-counter pain medication.
Timing
Some people with endometriosis experience cyclical pain related to the menstrual cycle.
Pain can also be omnipresent and not come on in a pattern or be associated with the menstrual cycle.
Does Staging Correlate With Extent of Disease?
These may include:
Do I Have to Have All Symptoms of Endometriosis for a Diagnosis?
Endometriosis can cause a constellation of symptoms that vary from person to person.
You do not need to be experiencing all the telltale signs of endometriosis to have endometriosis.
It is also possible that an abnormal period could be occurring without it appearing abnormal.
Endometriosis can also manifest as mostly GI symptoms instead of symptoms associated with menstruation.
Be descriptive when talking to your healthcare provider, and don’t downplay your pain.
Sometimes endometriosis is mistaken for or missed alongside other conditions such as IBS.
Endometriosis can significantly impact quality of life.
Intense paincan be debilitating enough that the person with endometriosis can’t engage in their usual routine.
Sometimes the person can’t get out of bed.
This can impact areas such as:
Endometriosis can also have psychological consequences.
People with endometriosis have reported feeling anxiety, stress, helplessness, and uncertainty.
Some note feelings of loss and shame.
This can add to the physical and psychological stress.
What Can Be Mistaken for Endometriosis?
Symptoms of endometriosis can overlap with symptoms of other conditions.
People with endometriosis can also have comorbid (co-occurring) conditions.
Endometriosis symptoms can be experienced at any age after the start of menstruation.
Summary
Pelvic pain is a common symptom of endometriosis.
For those that experience it, the pain can be severe and debilitating.
Endometriosis pain is experienced differently from person to person.
The pain can cause different sensations, such as sharp, cramping, or aching.
The intensity of the symptoms does not always correlate with the severity of the condition.
Endometriosis can be treated with medications or surgery.
Pain symptoms may be relieved withhome remediessuch as applying heat, performing gentle exercise, or using relaxation techniques.
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Endometriosis isnt always the culprit.
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