What are the Symptoms?
The symptoms of endometriosis can vary: some women have no symptoms at all, while others have severe pain. The most common symptom is pelvic pain that feels like period pain.
Other symptoms include:
- Severe period pain
- Back pain during menstruation
- Pain during sexual intercourse
- Changes to periods, such as a small loss of blood before the period is due (spotting), irregular bleeding or heavy periods
- Infertility
- Painful bowel movements
- Abdominal bloating and digestive discomfort
- Difficulty becoming pregnant
- Fatigue
Symptoms often improve dramatically after pregnancy, and it is believed that having a break from the monthly cycle actually ‘quietens down’ the disease in some sufferers. Symptoms of endometriosis usually disappear after the menopause.
