Symptoms of Endometriosis

Endometriosis is much more than simple “killer cramps.” It can cause symptoms varying from painful periods (called dysmenorrhea), to pain with sexual activity (referred to as dyspareunia), to gastrointestinal and urinary tract difficulties (respectively referred to as dyschezia and dysuria). Infertility is also prevalent in endometriosis, affecting more than half of women who have the disease. Some characteristic signs of endometriosis include:

chronic or intermittent pelvic pain
painful menstruation
irregular vaginal or uterine bleeding
irregular vaginal clotting
infertility, miscarriage, ectopic (tubal) pregnancy
pain associated with intercourse
nausea/vomiting, gastrointestinal cramping, diarrhea/constipation, particularly with periods
rectal pain
blood in the urine; urinary frequency, retention, or urgency
fatigue, chronic pain, allergies and other immune-related issues are also commonly reported complaints in those with endometriosis