WATCH OUT FOR THESE FIVE SYMPTOMS

Here are five common signs of endometriosis. Watch out for:

1. Painful periods. Most of us have cramps during our periods, but women with endometriosis often have debilitating pain.

2. Chronic pelvic pain. Sometimes women have chronic and severe pelvic pain even when they don’t have their periods, Christianson says. This can be due to prolonged disease and scarring.

3. Painful intercourse. This common symptom, also known as dyspareunia, is due to endometriosis beneath the uterus. During penetration, women might have intense, localized pain.

4. Ovarian cysts. These cysts, known as endometriomas, are another hallmark of endometriosis. They can become large and painful, and often need to be removed.

5. Infertility. Infertility is defined as not conceiving within one year despite regular sexual intercourse without contraception. About 10 percent of women living with infertility have endometriosis. “This is the leading cause of infertility because it can cause scar tissue as well as damage and inflammation to the fallopian tubes, which are needed to conceive naturally,” Christianson explains. “Research also shows that endometriosis can affect egg quality and reduce the number of eggs in the body.”

The symptoms above aren’t exclusive to endometriosis. Painful periods don’t always point to endometriosis, sometimes they’re a separate condition known as dysmenorrhea. Pelvic pain can also be caused by scar tissue, previous infections or a history of appendicitis. Irritable or inflammatory bowel syndromes can also cause pelvic pain.