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Conditions

Endometriosis

Endometriosis

As if women didn’t have enough trouble to deal with at that ‘that time of the month’, along comes endometriosis. Around 2 million women in the UK suffer from it, and although usually diagnosed between the ages of 25 and 40, teenagers can suffer as well. Endometriosis is when cells from the lining of the womb end up elsewhere in the reproductive or digestive system. These cells thicken and bleed just like in the vagina, and on a similar cycle! However, the key problem lies with these cells having no way of leaving the body, therefore causing pain and swelling. Although there is no cure, symptoms can be managed, but if left unchecked there may be difficulty in getting pregnant, and in extreme cases it can lead to organs fusing together. Not nice…

What the Men in White Coats Say

Comments and Questions

The EB doctors have been looking at your comments and have answered some of the common questions below. Remember that it is always best to check with a health professional if you have any concerns about your health.

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I am 25 years old and have suffered from very heavy and painful period since I first started menstruating. My periods were also very unregular where some cycles I would have a period for 2 weeks straight and then wouldnt have it again for 3 months. The pill sorted out the cycle problem but the pain got worse. For the last 5 years I suffered from extremem abdominal pain which would last for about half an hour and then result in very painful diarrhea. This happened the day before my period, and then the day my period ended. I saw an endometrosis specialist in Australia who diagnosed endometriosis and recommended going on the pill continuously (ie not taking the sugar pill) as by taking away the period, it would take away the pain. She also recommended waiting to see if the continuous pill sorted it out before having surgery. Her reasoning for the diarrhea was that my lining was growing near my bowel which was irritating it and causing diarrhea. This works brilliantly for 4 months at a time, but sometimes I will still get the cramps and diarrhea. However some doctors have said that it is not safe to continuously take the pill and never have a period. Do my symptoms sound like endometriosis? And is it safe to continue taking the pill continuously?





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I am 17 years old and i suffer from really bad periods and I hardly ever have a break if im lucky I go a week without a break I have had all the period pills you could have even the implant and nothing has worked sometimes im on my period for 3 months without a break. i also suffer from pain when im having sex and i makes me want to wee when im having it.. what is up with me ????





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I am 25 and for about the past 6years or so i have had very very painful periods, sometimes to the point i just cant walk or stand up. my periods only last for max 5days at a time and usually are on time...give or take a week. for the past 2years or so i have been suffering with pain in between periods where my tubes are and also during sex. It feels as is my tubes are swollen and throbing! I have been having smear tests since i was 18 and 1 or 2 (cant remember how many)had abnormal cells but the last was fine, but this was over 2years ago now. Passing urine is fine but a number 2 sometimes hurts and feels like it is pushing against my tubes! i also suffer with irritable leg syndrome(for the past 8yers), vertigo and painful throbing in my legs from time to time which started about 3or4 years ago. i cant take the pill as have family history of thrombosis,so always use condoms for contraception! have been with my man for 3 1/2 years and in that time i have been for sti screening and all was fine. a friend suggested this may be endometriosis but have not been for a check up for this. what does this sound like? any help would be great because to be honest....the pain does seem to be getting worse with time! thanks





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Last year I had a laparoscopy operation of which the result confirmed I had endometrosis. i have been trying for 10 years to have a child. would it be possible to have any children with endometrosis





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I have recently had a laparoscopy which showed nothing up, i was admitted to hospital with lower ad pains on my right and nausea. They couldnt find anything and told me i could go home and get referred to a gynaecologist. I spoke to my GP on Friday and she advised that I have to get over the pain from the operation and I also advised her I was due on my period. She advised me to complete the cycle and finish my period because sometimes these things just go away on their own! I feel like i'm going round in circles! I am on my period at the moment and have the normal period pain but i still have this pain in my lower right going right into my groin. You know when something doesn't feel right with your body and I have just gone back to work today but came home early as I was in pain. I feel like the two weeks I spent off work were a complete waste of time and now they have cut me open left me with scars all for no reason? I just want to know if the Laparoscopy is sometimes wrong? Could they have missed something?





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i have an endometrioma and your symptoms snd familiar have you had a c section?

i haven't had a c section no, i haven't got children. I stil have the pain on the right, into my groin and pelvis. I have been referred to a gynaecologist now but can't be seen until 15th April! I am just not sure what it is and wonder if something's been missed durint the laparoscopy?

I have menstrual bleeding that lasts for months (yes months) at a time. I bleed every day, sometimes its light, but often very heavy with large blood clots/tissue (it looks like bits of raw kidney). I've had two ultrasound scans. The doctors thought it might be a hemoragic cyst, but they said that wouldn't actually explain the bleeding as the blood would be retained inside my body. They now say its not a hemoragic cyst. I'm now going to have an MRI scan as they think I may have a benign tumour on my kidney which is affecting the adrenal gland that regulates your hormones. Any one had simillar?





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I'm 20 years old and fit and healthy. Im suffering pain deep iside during sex, it feels as though my cervix is bruised. I;m having irregular bleeding, which varies from being light to quite heavy and appearing to have some tissue in it. I have abdominal pain everyday on and off throughout, which is quite sharp and uncomfortable. Has anyne else been diagnosed with Endometiosis with symptoms like these? I have been to my doctor several times about this but nothing is being done to help me.





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Hi i'm 19 and have endo was told last June after the op to check it was deffo that.. I too bleed for weeks on end but mine is now like a brown colour but clumpy when I wee.. I tried the low woman contraceptive pill but it gave me facial hair so I am now on mavlon been on it for 3 days.. I get pain every day the same on and off the best thing is to take a strong pain killer which your doctor cab get you... As for sex I'm never going to get over that pain and bleeding buts it's living with it now.. The doctors don't no alot about endo so give silly and unpractable soultions such as having a baby this would be great. In a ideal world stick in there And I hope you feel better soon... Hope this helped x

these are the exact symptoms that i suffered, im only 17 but been experiencing the abdominal pain and irregular bleeding for about a year now and I now find sex is just to painful. iv been going to see my doctor who put me on different contraceptive pills to stop the cycles and the pain. however these did not work and resulted in me having periods for as long as 5 weeks. i am now on a pill called primolut which has been really affective for my cramps and has stopped bleeding completely. i have been referred now to a gynaecologist to find a more permanent solution as taking the tablet three times a day is a hassle and it also does not work for contraception. i was told there were the options of an injection or an implant that use the same hormone as the tablets they are also looking at doing a laparoscopy on me at some point to see if surgery is an option. hope this helps you

hi i'm 27 with two kids.i've recently had blood in my discharge,i do have polysistic ovaries and possible endo.would it be connected to these factor or something else as i do have an aunt die from cervical cancer at the age of 29?





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i am 20 years old and ever since i started my periods at the age of 11 i have suffered from very painfull periods i have visited my local doctor but they have not told me exactly what the problem is and i was wondering if there is anything u could tell me about this.





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l am 40 now and have been suffering from severe abdominal pain and very heavy periods since l was 16, l have been diagnosed 2years ago having fibroids which according to the gynae they seems very small so no need for surgery but l can feel a massive mass on the left side of my abdomen expecially when my bladder is full in the night it feels very massive, l gone back to my GP but all l have been given is tables to be taken when my period starts, l am worried about this mass because sometimes it is painful walking stright. Any advice please.





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It looks like no one else has asked this question, so please fill in the rest of your details below.





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Content supplied by NHS Choices

Endometriosis is a common condition in which small pieces of the womb lining (the endometrium) are found outside the womb. This could be in the fallopian tubes, ovaries, bladder, bowel, vagina or rectum. Read More »

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