Endometriosis is a condition that occurs when the tissue that lines the inside of the uterus grows outside of the uterus within the pelvic region. 

This usually affects the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and other areas of the pelvic region, but it can also affect other body parts. Endometriosis can be painful, especially during menstruation. 

Endometriosis is a complex and painful, though often undetected, condition. 

For many women with endometriosis, the symptoms can have an impact on their daily life as well as their mental wellbeing. 

In Australia, at least one in every nine women lives with endometriosis. 

However, on average, it takes seven years for somebody to receive an endometriosis diagnosis. 

This goes to show how many women could be unknowingly living with endometriosis. 

Although endometriosis doesn’t have a cure, an array of effective treatment options are available to ensure that you are supported if you have the condition. 

By treating endometriosis, you can manage uncomfortable symptoms and improve your overall quality of life. 

Unfortunately, the only way to get an official diagnosis is by having a laparoscopy (keyhole surgery). 

This is often why many women take so long to get an endometriosis diagnosis. 

The thought of undergoing surgery just to ‘check’ if the symptoms they are experiencing come from endometriosis can be a bit daunting. 

Some surgeons may have an arrangement with their patient to remove any endometriosis if it’s found, making the surgery both a diagnosis and a treatment option. 

Furthermore, endometriosis symptoms look different for every woman, sometimes making the overall diagnosis process difficult.

There are some common symptoms of endometreosis to be aware of. 

If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, you should consult with your GP or healthcare professional.

Painful period

As it’s more common for the pain associated with endometriosis to present itself during menstruation, having a particularly painful period is one of the significant signs of endometriosis. Pelvic pain presented during menstrual periods is the primary symptom of endometriosis. Of course, many women experience discomfort or pain during their periods. However, endometriosis pain is usually far worse than standard period pain. Another sign that may indicate endometriosis is the pain you experience with your period may increase over time. 

Pain during intercourse

Pain during sexual intersource is a common sign of endometriosis. Penetration can pull and stretch the endometrial tissue, particularly if the placement of the tissue is behind the vagina or lower uterus. Due to tissue placement, certain positions will likely cause extreme shooting pain, while others may be milder — this is likely when the tissues are being affected. While there are several reasons that women experience pain during sexual intercourse, if you are experiencing other symptoms indicating endometriosis, this could be the cause. 

Difficulty falling pregnant

Unfortunately, if there were no other prevailing signs and symptoms, a lot of people don’t realise they have endometriosis until trying to fall pregnant. Endometriosis can affect fertility, this could be because of several reasons, including:

• Inflammation of pelvic structures
• Altered immune system functioning
• Distorted anatomy of the pelvic region
• Adhesions
• Scarred fallopian tubes
• Changes in the hormonal environment of the eggs
• Impaired implantation of a pregnancy
• Altered eqq quality 

Around 30% of women with endometriosis have difficulty falling pregnant. As with the other symptoms, several factors could lead to fertility problems, but if you have also had some of the other symptoms, endometriosis might be causing this difficulty. 

Pain in the lower back or pelvic area

Again, pain in the lower back is another sign associated with just “that time of the month” (another reason why endometriosis is so difficult to diagnose). However, pain in the lower back or pelvic area is also a sign of endometriosis. This is because endometrial cells can roam to your lower back and the front of your pelvic region, causing pain and aches. If you are experiencing chronic and ongoing pain in the lower back and pelvic area, we recommend speaking with a doctor to see if endometriosis might be causing this. 

Fatigue

Endometriosis can lead to persistent feelings of fatigue. A Swiss study showed that nearly half of the women with endometriosis also dealt with the associated fatigue. It is believed that fatigue results from the immune system being triggered by the endometriosis cells, causing the body to be overworked. So if you have found yourself being uncharacteristically tired, perhaps with this feeling of fatigue worsening, this could be linked to endometriosis. 

Employment support

Suppose you are struggling to keep up with the demands of a job due to the signs and symptoms of endometriosis or the disruptive nature of the treatments required for endometriosis. 

In that case, support is available to help you cope in the workplace. Endometriosis is a supported condition with the Disability Employment Services Program; for more information, reach out to a professional agency that can help you to find success and comfort within the workplace.