Pain is unfortunately significantly associated with periods. Over 80% of women report having painful periods over the course of their life. But how can we tell if this pain is normal or something far more serious? One possible reason why you might be experiencing more severe pain during periods is endometriosis. It is tricky to spot and is very similar to other conditions. Here is what to look out for.
Common Symptoms
- Severe period pain that interferes with daily tasks
- Extremely heavy periods — needing to change collection methods every 1-2 hours
Pain during your period is the most telling symptom of endometriosis. However, other symptoms can manifest at any time during your cycle. Such as:
- Aches and pain in the pelvic area
- Pain during and/or after sex
- Fatigue
- Difficulty getting pregnant
Other symptoms may not be as obvious or as severe. Less common indicators of endometriosis include:
- Issues with digestion — including constipation and diarrhoea
- Blood in urine or faeces
- Issues with the immune system
- Chronic fatigue
- Mental health conditions, including depression
Barriers to Identifying Endometriosis
Endometriosis is tricky to get a diagnosis for. On average, it takes almost nine years from the first doctor’s visit to get an official endometriosis diagnosis.
One reason why this is so common is that endometriosis has such common symptoms to other conditions. Fibroids, adenomyosis, pelvic inflammatory disease and irritable bowel syndrome all have similar symptoms. Being misdiagnosed is very common among these conditions. It takes a laparoscopy to officially diagnose endometriosis. A laparoscopy is a procedure where doctors use a camera and small incisions to examine the pelvic area. It cannot be picked up in scans or blood tests.
Another unfortunate reason endometriosis diagnoses are so challenging to get is because the pain that women report is disbelieved. Since pain is such a common side effect of the menstrual cycle, it is easy for women to dismiss their symptoms, thinking that it is what everyone else goes through as well. Similarly, it makes it easy for doctors to dismiss women’s pain and instead suggest pain relief methods like over-the-counter painkillers and lifestyle changes as opposed to actual treatment for the condition. Endometriosis research is also severely underfunded, even though it affects 10% of menstruators.
Even if you don’t think you have endometriosis, extreme pain should not be a regular occurrence. If you are experiencing pain severe enough to keep you from doing your day-to-day tasks like work, school, or driving, it may be time to consult your healthcare provider. You deserve pain-free periods.
If you would like to learn more about pain relief methods to manage your menstrual side effects, discover more by clicking here.