Endometriosis

Severely painful and heavy periods may be something you have always had and seem normal to you, but they are not something that you have to live with and are definitely something you need to see your gyn provider about. Painful periods could be caused by endometriosis, a common disorder among women, or the pain could also be caused by some other condition.

Endometriosis is a condition in which microscopic bits of the endometrium (the lining of the uterus that sheds every month when you have your period) are found in the pelvis. We don't know why this happens to some women. There are several research projects going on to investigate the problem and some results seem to suggest that it may run in families. These tiny cells of endometrial tissue bleed each month just like the rest of the lining of the uterus. This process causes pain, inflammation, and eventually causes scar tissue and adhesions.

Endometriosis doesn't lead to cancer or anything life-threatening, but it can cause other serious problems besides painful periods. The most common are pain with sex, infertility, irregular bleeding and painful bowel movements.

There is only one way to diagnose endometriosis definitely and that is with laparoscopy. This is a one-day surgery preformed by a gynecologist examining the inside of the pelvis through a fiber optic scope. Oral contraceptives or other hormonal medication can be used to decrease the pain of periods and hopefully stop the spread of the disease. It is very important to see your gyn provider soon if you have these symptoms.

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