What is endometriosis, you say to yourself? This name refers to a very widespread gynecological pathology, which affects on average one in ten women among those of childbearing age. The disease is characterized by the proliferation of the tissue that makes up the uterine lining, namely the endometrium, outside the uterus. It then comes to line other organs, in particular the bladder, the intestines, the rectum, the colon or the ovaries. If it is benign, endometriosis is no less disabling on a daily basis, due to the overwhelming pain that accompanies it.
Many suffer from endometriosis without being able to recognize the presence of this disease through the symptoms it manifests. These signs are mainly related to the location of the organ attacked by the disease, and can be periodic or chronic. In addition, endometriosis may manifest asymptomatically. However, the most frequent cases of the disease are accompanied by obvious symptoms.
Painful periods may be normal for some women with heavy flow, but they are not always. In fact, intense pelvic cramps and pain to the point of becoming unbearable during menstruation are among the first proven symptoms of endometriosis. Dysmenorrhea, another name for these menstrual pains, is the most common sign of endometriosis. It occurs in 50 to 90% of women suffering from endometriosis according to the global survey carried out by EndoFrance.
Be careful, however, not to confuse the dysmenorrhea characteristic of endometriosis with a simple primary dysmenorrhea. If menstrual cramps dissipate after taking paracetamol, they are linked to heavy discharge. The pelvic pain that accompanies endometriosis is particularly difficult to bear and very disabling on a daily basis.
Depending on the location of the lesion caused by endometriosis, the pain experienced by the patient can manifest itself in different ways. Thus, in addition to cramps and pelvic pain that indicate the presence of endometriosis and can radiate to her legs, a woman suffering from the pathology can also experience sharp pains:
Thus, in the case of endometriosis, pelvic pain occurs outside periods of menstruation and affects all areas around the abdomen. In some cases, lower back pain is felt.
Disabling pain and cramps that are constantly present on a daily basis, especially during menstruation, are enough to put you on the path to endometriosis. In these cases, there is no doubt that you should consult a specialist directly to receive appropriate treatment. This pain may, in some women with endometriosis, be accompanied by:
As endometriosis is a cause of infertility, the pathology is often diagnosed in this setting.
