What are the symptoms of endometriosis?

Endometriosis is a common gynecological disease in women caused by the implantation of active endometrial cells outside the endometrium. Endometrial cells should grow in the uterine cavity, but because the uterine cavity is connected to the pelvic cavity through the fallopian tube, endometrial cells can enter the pelvic cavity through the fallopian tube and grow ectopically.

Symptoms of endometriosis vary from person to person, but common symptoms include:

1. Secondary and progressive dysmenorrhea: This is the most typical symptom of endometriosis. About 60% to 80% of patients suffer from dysmenorrhea. The pain is mostly in the middle of the lower abdomen and the lumbosacral region, but the pain can radiate to the perineum, anus and thighs, presenting as a heavy and distending pain. It usually occurs 1 to 2 days before menstruation and reaches its peak on the first day of menstruation. Most of the pain is severe and requires bed rest or painkillers, which gradually ease after menstruation.

2. Menstrual disorders: often manifested as increased menstrual flow, prolonged menstrual period or premenstrual spotting. Some patients may even experience decreased menstrual flow.

3. Pain during sexual intercourse: It usually manifests as deep pain during sexual intercourse, and the pain is most obvious before menstruation.

4. Periodic bladder irritation symptoms: When the lesion involves the bladder peritoneal folds or invades the bladder muscle layer, symptoms such as urgency and frequent urination during menstruation will appear at the same time. If the lesion invades the bladder mucosa, bladder endometriosis will cause periodic hematuria and pain.

5. When ectopic endometrium grows in any part outside the pelvic cavity, periodic pain, bleeding, and lumps may occur locally, along with corresponding symptoms.

6. Severe abdominal pain: When an ovarian endometriosis cyst ruptures, it can cause sudden severe abdominal pain, accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and anal distension. It is similar to ectopic pregnancy rupture, but there is no intra-abdominal bleeding.

If you suspect you may have endometriosis, you should seek medical attention and treatment in time. At the same time, maintaining good living habits and personal hygiene is also one of the important measures to prevent endometriosis.