Health Conditions

What are the symptoms?

Nearly one-third of the women who have endometriosis have no symptoms other than infertility. Others have varying degrees of symptoms, depending on the stage of the disease. The early stages or milder forms are frequently more painful than the later stages. This may be because the young endometrial tissue is more likely to undergo spasms, whereas the older endometrial tissue may simply 'burn out' and turn into inactive scar tissue. Some commonly associated symptoms include the following:

• Painful periods
• Premenstrual spotting
• Heavy menstrual periods
• Urinary urgency or painful urination
• Increased cramping during intercourse
• Pain deep in the pelvis during intercourse
• Pain during bowel movements or rectal bleeding

Diarrhea or rectal bleeding and a sense of rectal fullness at the time of menses are significant clues to the development of endometriosis.