Health Center - Reproductive and Pelvic Health
No matter your age, the health of your reproductive and urinary organs—your pelvic organs—is important. If something goes wrong "down there," it affects your overall health and quality of life. Get answers to all of your most pressing questions and put an end to embarrassing symptoms.
Diagnosing and Treating Endometriosis
About 40 percent to 60 percent of all women with pain during their periods have endometriosis, as do about 20 percent to 30 percent of women who have problems getting pregnant. The condition is more common in middle-aged women, and the symptoms become more severe with age. The diagnosis is often made around age 40.
We don't know what causes endometriosis, although there are several possibilities. One is that menstrual blood doesn't flow completely out of the cervix (the opening of the uterus to the vagina), but is pushed backward out of the uterus through the fallopian tubes into the pelvic cavity.
In addition to pelvic pain and abnormal bleeding, other symptoms of endometriosis include:
- Diarrhea and painful bowel movements, especially during menstruation
- Painful intercourse
- Abdominal tenderness
- Severe cramping
- Backache
- Severe menstrual cramps
To diagnose endometriosis, your doctor first conducts a thorough medical history and physical examination, including a pelvic exam. You will likely undergo a transvaginal ultrasound, in which a wand is inserted into your vagina. The wand emits sound waves, which transmit an image of your pelvic region so it can be evaluated by your doctor. This test doesn't always pick up signs of endometriosis.
