To better understand endometriosis, it’s helpful to imagine how the menstrual cycle works. Each month, the endometrium thickens to prepare for a possible pregnancy. If pregnancy doesn’t occur, the tissue sheds and is eliminated through menstruation. In endometriosis, the tissue that grows outside the uterus also responds to hormones, but it lacks a way to escape. This causes internal inflammation, persistent pain, and, in some cases, microscopic internal bleeding that irritates nearby organs.
The most well-known symptom of endometriosis is severe menstrual pain. This isn’t the typical discomfort relieved by a painkiller; it’s a debilitating pain that forces women to miss work, school, or cancel everyday activities. Many women describe this pain as sharp, deep, or constant, and it tends to worsen over time.
Another very common symptom is chronic pelvic pain, that is, pain in the lower abdomen that is not limited to menstruation. It can appear days before menstruation, during ovulation, or even be present almost every month. This type of pain is often one of the main reasons why women seek medical attention, although a correct diagnosis is not always reached immediately.
