Endometriosis

What does endometriosis mean?

Endometriosis: A long-term condition where tissue like the womb lining grows outside the womb, often causing pain.

How it is used in the Splash library

• Endometriosis is when tissue similar to the womb lining (endometrium) grows outside the womb, often on the ovaries, fallopian tubes or around the pelvis.

  From “Endometriosis: your pain is real”

• It is less talked about than endometriosis, but it is not rare.

  From “Adenomyosis: endo’s lesser-known cousin”

• The NHS and RCOG recommend a symptom diary for PMS, and NICE says a pain and symptom diary helps for endometriosis too.

  From “How to talk to your doctor (and be heard)”

• Can help endometriosis symptoms

  From “The combined pill”

• Conditions like PCOS, endometriosis or a past STI

  From “How long does it take to get pregnant?”

Endometriosis explained

Endometriosis is a long-term condition where tissue similar to the lining of the womb grows in other places, such as the ovaries, fallopian tubes, the lining of the pelvis, the bowel or the bladder. This tissue responds to hormones in the cycle, causing inflammation, pain and sometimes scar tissue.

It affects around 1 in 10 women and people assigned female at birth of reproductive age (NHS). In the UK it takes, on average, several years from first symptoms to a confirmed answer, partly because period pain is so often dismissed as normal.

What's typical

Common symptoms are period pain that stops you doing normal things, pelvic pain at other times, pain during or after sex, pain when pooing or peeing during your period, tiredness, and difficulty getting pregnant.

Symptoms vary a lot: some people with extensive endometriosis have little pain, and some with small areas have a lot. A laparoscopy (keyhole surgery) can confirm it, and scans can sometimes show it.

Treatment can include pain relief, hormonal treatments such as the pill or an IUS, and surgery (NICE NG73).

When to talk to a GP, nurse or pharmacist

• Period pain is not helped by ordinary painkillers, or makes you miss school, work or plans.
• You have pain during sex, or pain when you poo or pee around your period.
• You have pelvic pain that keeps coming back, or have been trying to get pregnant without success. Keeping a symptom diary helps a GP see the pattern.

In the UK you can call NHS 111 for advice at any time. In an emergency call 999 (UK) or 911 (US). This is general information, not medical advice.