What Are the Symptoms of Endometriosis?

At Cobb Women’s Health, we understand that conditions like endometriosis can significantly impact your daily life, career, and overall well-being.

Endometriosis commonly causes pelvic pain that often intensifies during menstruation. This pain can range from mild to severe, affecting the lower abdomen and lower back. Other primary symptoms include:

• Painful periods (dysmenorrhea) and heavy menstrual bleeding

• Discomfort or deep pain during or after sexual intercourse

• Chronic pelvic pain that persists even when you aren’t menstruating

• Chronic fatigue and exhaustion

Many women delay seeking treatment because they aren’t sure if their pain is “bad enough” to be considered a medical condition. Normal period cramps (primary dysmenorrhea) typically start a day or two before your period and improve after a few days. They can usually be managed with over-the-counter pain relievers and a heating pad.

Endometriosis symptoms are different. The pain is often described as a deep, radiating ache that may start days before your period and last well after it ends. If your period pain forces you to miss work, skip social events, or if standard pain medication does not help, it is time to schedule an evaluation with Dr. Mainthia or Dr. Hansalia.

Because endometrial tissue can grow on organs surrounding the uterus, endometriosis symptoms often disguise themselves as gastrointestinal or urinary issues.

Patients frequently experience what is known as “endo belly”—severe bloating that worsens throughout the day, particularly during their menstrual cycle. Other hidden symptoms include:

• Pain during bowel movements (especially during menstruation)

• Painful urination

• Diarrhea, constipation, or nausea that aligns with your menstrual cycle

If you have been treated for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or frequent bladder infections without relief, mention these symptoms to our providers during your visit. Dr. Hansalia and Dr. Mainthia are highly experienced in identifying when these issues are actually linked to endometriosis.

Endometriosis doesn’t just stay in the pelvic region. Sometimes, endometrial-like lesions develop near the pelvic nerves, including the sciatic nerve. This can lead to radiating endometriosis symptoms that travel beyond your abdomen. You may experience:

• Deep, aching lower back pain that flares up during your period

• Shooting pain, numbness, or tingling traveling down one or both legs (similar to sciatica)

• Hip or groin pain

When you book an appointment for pelvic pain, Dr. Hansalia or Dr. Mainthia won’t just rush through a standard check-up. We start by sitting down and listening to your full timeline of symptoms—from abdominal cramping to back pain and bloating. We will discuss exactly how your pain impacts your work and daily life.

Because these symptoms can mimic other conditions, our providers use a highly personalized approach. Only after listening to your story will we perform a gentle, localized pelvic exam to check for the cysts or scarring that are the telltale signs of endometriosis. We also utilize advanced in-office diagnostics to get you the right answers without unnecessary guesswork.

Our experienced providers are committed to helping you understand this complex condition. While the exact cause of endometriosis is unclear, several factors may contribute to its development:

• Retrograde Menstruation: Menstrual blood containing endometrial cells flows backward into the pelvic cavity instead of leaving the body, allowing these cells to attach to pelvic organs.

• Hormonal Imbalances: Imbalances involving estrogen may stimulate the growth of endometrial-like tissue outside the uterus.

• Immune System Dysfunction: A compromised immune system may allow these misplaced cells to survive and grow.

• Genetics: A family history can potentially increase your risk.

• Surgical Procedures: Past surgeries, such as cesarean sections, may inadvertently contribute to the displacement of endometrial cells.

We emphasize personalized care tailored specifically to your needs. Endometriosis often disrupts a woman’s hormonal balance by causing an overproduction of estrogen, which makes the tissue grow more rapidly and increases the severity of symptoms like heavy bleeding and irregular periods. For some patients, we manage this through customized hormone therapy.

If conservative treatments aren’t enough to manage your endometriosis symptoms, Dr. Hitendra Hansalia specializes in minimally invasive and Da Vinci Robotic surgeries. These advanced techniques allow our doctors to remove endometriosis tissue with precision, leading to faster recovery times, less scarring, and significant, long-term pain relief.