4 Uncommon Symptoms of Endometriosis You Shouldn’t Ignore
Endometriosis is a condition where tissues that resemble the uterine lining start to grow outside the uterus. Silent endometriosis may have less obvious symptoms compared to regular endometriosis, making it harder to address. MyReceptiva offers a test for endometriosis to improve your chances of detecting and treating this condition. Here are a few of the uncommon symptoms of endometriosis:
1. Pelvic and Back Discomfort
While a common symptom of endometriosis is sharp pelvic pain, one of the uncommon symptoms of endometriosis is milder pain. Silent endometriosis may cause milder pelvic pain that occurs intermittently. Pelvic pain may be seen as mild menstrual cramps and treated with pain medication. This makes it easier to dismiss this symptom.
Abdomen and back pain are also signs of endometriosis. While intense pain is a common symptom, milder lower back pain is less common. This symptom occurs as a constant dull ache instead of severe pain. Unlike the pelvic discomfort, this pain may not respond to standard treatments. If you are experiencing this pain outside of your menstrual cycle, you may have endometriosis.
2. Bowel and Bladder Pain
Endometriosis patients may experience pain in the bowels or bladder when passing urine or other waste. This can be a sign that endometriosis has attached to the bladder. Endometriosis cells can swell during menstruation, resulting in pain during urination. Other bladder problems include urinary tract infections, or UTIs, and the need to visit the bathroom more often during a period.
2. Bloating and Constipation
The intestine is able to be impacted by endometriosis, resulting in digestive issues during the menstrual cycle. This includes bloating and constipation. Periods of vomiting and diarrhea may also occur. These issues may be taken as symptoms of gastrointestinal problems, like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). If these digestion issues constantly occur during your period, look into endometriosis as a possible cause. Talk to an endometriosis specialist about your symptoms.
Receiving a MyReceptiva test can help you determine if you are likely experiencing endometriosis. This test measures BCL6 levels. BCL6 is a protein marker that indicates the presence of uterine inflammation. The test does not detect BCL6 in patients with the typical amount of endometrial tissue.
3. Irregular Bleeding and Dyspareunia
Endometriosis can impact the vagina, uterus, and ovaries, causing changes to the menstrual cycle. This condition is commonly associated with heavy bleeding during or between menstrual cycles and intense pain during periods. Silent endometriosis results in more subtle changes to your cycle. This includes spotting between periods and periods that last longer or shorter than normal.
Endometriosis can also cause pain before, during, or after sexual intercourse. This condition is called dyspareunia. This pain can range from mild to severe. Patients are able to take the MyReceptiva test seven days after ovulation. We offer a take-home ovulation detection test as part of the kit. A women’s health specialist is also able to perform the MyReceptiva test during a typical office visit for greater convenience. Patients can be allowed to return home within minutes of the test.
4. Infertility and Failed Treatments
In some cases, the only symptom of silent endometriosis is unexplained infertility. Endometriosis causes scarring in the fallopian tubes and ovaries, along with inflammation. This interferes with natural conception and embryo implantation, resulting in infertility. Endometriosis can cause in vitro fertilization (IVF) failures and unsuccessful fertilization treatments.
Higher BCL6 levels are found in both asymptomatic and symptomatic cases of endometriosis. During a MyReceptiva test, the specialist takes a sample of your uterine lining and sends it to our lab. Results are often available between seven to ten business days.
Positive results for the BCL6 marker mean a 90% chance or greater of endometriosis. Negative results indicate less than a 7% chance of detectable endometriosis. Knowing your results helps you make an educated decision on whether to receive a laparoscopy procedure, a surgery that diagnoses and helps remove the extra uterine-like tissue. Other treatments for endometriosis include hormonal therapies.
Learn About Uncommon Symptoms of Endometriosis
Receiving the test early on helps reduce the impact of endometriosis on your fertility journey. We offer free, 20-minute phone consultations to discuss the MyReceptiva test and answer your questions. To learn more about the uncommon symptoms of endometriosis, we invite you to call or email us today.
