The hormonal changes brought on by your menstrual cycle will also affect any misplaced tissue outside of the uterus. This will cause the areas to become inflamed and painful as the tissue grows, thickens, and sheds as it does in your uterus. Depending on the location this can cause internal bleeding, pain, and reduce your chances of pregnancy.

Symptoms
Symptoms of endometriosis vary. Some women may experience mild symptoms while others may have more moderate to severe experiences. The severity of your pain does not indicate the degree or stage of your condition. Some women with severe cases only experience minimal symptoms.

The most common symptom of endometriosis is pelvic pain, but you may also experience:

• Painful periods
• Pain in the lower abdomen before and during menstruation
• Cramps one or two weeks around menstruation
• Heavy menstrual bleeding
• Bleeding between periods
• Pain following intercourse
• Infertility
• Discomfort with bowel movements
• Lower back pain at any time during your menstrual cycle

You may also experience no symptoms, which is why it is important to attend routine gynecological exams. This will allow your doctor to note any changes. If suspected, your doctor may recommend laparoscopy as it is the only certain method of identifying endometriosis by viewing it directly. A tissue sample will be sent and analyzed by the lab to confirm the diagnosis.

Treatment
Endometriosis may be suspected and treated medically as if present. Treatment focuses on the inhibition of the disease, management of symptoms and improving your quality of life. Everyone reacts differently, so we will work with you to design the right treatment plan for your condition.

Pain medication can be used to help manage some symptoms of pain and inflammation. Hormonal therapies can also relieve pain and stop the progression of endometriosis in some cases. By blocking the natural production of estrogen, endometriosis can be slowed but may also bring on early symptoms of menopause. Most medical therapies inhibit pregnancy temporarily.

Laparoscopy, a minimally invasive surgery, is the only way to definitively diagnose endometriosis. Operative laparoscopy is also used to remove endometrial tissue from various sites. Depending on the severity and location of disease, laparoscopy may or may not be curative. In severe cases and if your condition does not respond to other forms of treatment, your doctor may suggest undergoing a hysterectomy. A hysterectomy removes the uterus, cervix, and sometimes ovaries as well as any visible implant lesions. Undergoing this surgery means you will be unable to become pregnant.