Common symptoms of endometriosis
The classic endometriosis symptoms include:
- Pelvic pain
- Painful periods that interfere with everyday life
- Heavy menstrual bleeding
- Pain during or after sex
- Painful bowel movements/when having a poo
- Pain when urinating/peeing
- Difficulty getting pregnant – up to 70% of those with endometriosis will be able to get pregnant naturally
- Fatigue, with one or more of the above symptoms
Symptoms vary from person to person, some may have severe and debilitating symptoms, others may have no symptoms at all. Symptoms are not always related to the location, amount or the type of endometriosis. It’s also important to know that endometriosis symptoms can also be symptoms of other health conditions. We recommend that you speak to a doctor if your symptoms are interfering with day-to-day life.
Important to know
Endometriosis is not cancer. It is not a sexually transmitted infection and is not contagious. Endometriosis symptoms can also be symptoms of other health conditions.
Symptoms of bladder endometriosis
• Needing to pee more often
• Pain when peeing
• Having an urgent need to pee
• Having trouble emptying your bladder when peeing
• Blood in your pee
• Frequent urinary tract infections
• In rare cases you may have kidney pain
Symptoms of bowel endometriosis
• Bloating or gas in your tummy
• Pain in your lower back.
• Pain during sex.
• Rectal bleeding while menstruating.
• Extreme pain when having a poo
• Digestive pain or symptoms similar to IBS - nausea, diarrhoea, constipation
Symptoms of thoracic (chest) endometriosis
It is rare to have endometriosis in your chest. If you do have thoracic
endometriosis you may experience:
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain specifically during a period.
• Shoulder-tip pain
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain during a period
• Shoulder-tip pain
Other symptoms may also be experienced, including:
• Pain starting before periods
• Ovulation pain
• Pain on internal examination (i.e smears)
• Prolonged bleeding
• Bleeding after sex
• Feeling faint or fainting during a period
All of the symptoms above may have other causes and may not necessarily be endometriosis. It is important to seek medical advice to clarify the cause of any symptoms. If your symptoms change after diagnosis, discuss these changes with your doctor. If your symptoms are interfering with your day-to-day life, speak to your doctor.
Many people with endometriosis also experience significant bloating around the time of a period. Bloating is common in those without endometriosis too, and bloating that does not go away can be a symptom of other health conditions.
Endometriosis can significantly impact mental health and wellbeing. With treatment, many of these issues can be addressed and symptoms made more manageable. Sometimes it can take time to find a treatment that works for you - keep speaking to your doctor.
Period pain - what is normal?
Period pain can be experienced even without endometriosis. Most cases of period pain are caused by contractions in the uterus - blood vessels in the muscle wall are compressed by these contractions, which temporarily cuts off blood supply to the womb, causing discomfort.
In endometriosis, the pain has a different cause. Endometrial tissue that has grown outside the uterus also breaks down and bleeds during a period - but because this internal bleeding has no way of leaving the body, it leads to inflammation, intense pain and a build-up of scar tissue.
Endometriosis is often characterised by pain in the days before a period begins. Periods become typically very painful - often meaning days off school, college or work. If period pain is preventing you from carrying out your normal activities, please seek medical advice.
Think you might have endometriosis?
If you think you have symptoms of endometriosis, the most important step is to speak to your doctor. Our Getting Diagnosed pages can help you prepare for that conversation.
You can also download our Understanding Endometriosis Information Pack for a thorough overview of the condition.