Endometriosis: What It Feels Like and What You Can Do
If your period pain is so bad it makes you miss work or school, you could have endometriosis. This happens when tissue like the uterine lining grows outside the uterus—on ovaries, fallopian tubes, or pelvic lining. That tissue reacts to hormones, bleeds each cycle, and causes inflammation, scar tissue, and pain.
Symptoms
Symptoms vary. The most common are painful periods, pelvic pain between cycles, pain during sex, heavy bleeding, and trouble getting pregnant. Some people feel bloated, tired, or have bowel or bladder pain during their period. Pain level doesn't always reflect disease severity.
Treatment
How doctors diagnose it. A pelvic exam and ultrasound can suggest endometriosis, but the only sure way to confirm is laparoscopy, a small surgery that lets the doctor see and often remove implants. Blood tests like CA-125 add clues but are not definitive. If symptoms are typical and get better with treatment, many doctors start therapy without surgery.
Treatment options you can expect. Pain control usually starts with NSAIDs like ibuprofen or naproxen. Hormonal options aim to reduce or stop cycles so implants calm: combined birth control pills, progestin-only pills or injections, levonorgestrel IUDs, and GnRH agonists or antagonists. Each choice has pros and cons—some prefer a daily pill; others choose an IUD. Hormones reduce pain and slow disease but don't cure it.
Surgery is for stubborn pain or fertility problems. Laparoscopic surgery removes visible implants and scar tissue and can improve pain and chances of pregnancy. In severe cases, hysterectomy might be discussed, but it's a last resort and not a guaranteed cure if ovaries remain.
Fertility and family plans. If you want to get pregnant, see a specialist early. Surgery can help, but sometimes assisted reproductive tech like IVF is the faster route. Your age, ovarian reserve, and endometriosis stage guide decisions.
Practical daily tips. Use a heating pad, gentle exercise, pelvic floor relaxation, and a low-inflammatory diet that cuts processed foods and excess sugar. Track your cycle and symptoms to spot patterns and bring clear notes to appointments. Sleep, stress control, and quitting smoking help.
When to see a doctor. Visit if pain disrupts life, causes fainting or severe nausea, or if you have trouble conceiving after a year of trying (six months if over 35). Ask for a clear plan: diagnosis steps, treatment choices, expected timeline, and fertility advice.
Find support and stay informed. Look for endometriosis support groups, pain clinics, or pelvic physical therapists who know this condition. Research is active—new medications and non-hormonal options appear often—so ask your doctor about clinical trials or pain specialists if usual care fails. You don't have to manage this alone.
Start today with one small step. Ask about pelvic physical therapy, pain clinics, and support groups; your doctor can explain clinical trials or refer you to pain specialists.
