Did you know that at least one in ten women are diagnosed with endometriosis? This painful, often life-changing condition causes the lining of your uterus (the endometrium) to grow outside your uterus in places it’s not supposed to be, resulting in cramping and other unpleasant symptoms.
Rickie Guida, WHNP-BC, and the care team at Alpenglow Gynecology in Littleton, Colorado, are committed to educating, diagnosing, and treating women with endometriosis. If you’re worried you may be one of the millions of women suffering from this condition, read on to see if you have any of the top symptoms.
The most common symptom of endometriosis is problematic periods. If you’re struggling through periods with extreme cramps or heavy bleeding with many clots, and if as time goes by your periods are getting worse instead of better, it could be endometriosis.
Endometriosis causes the lining of your uterus to grow in places it’s not designed to grow. But the tissue still tries to shed each month when it’s time for your period. The result can be severe pain, and over time this pain can worsen. Not everyone with endometriosis has pain in the same location. The most common places for endometrial pain include the pelvic area, abdomen, and back.
Another common symptom of endometriosis includes finding sex painful. If you have deep pain during or after sex, or if the pain you experience lasts up to a day after intercourse, it could be a sign of endometriosis. Don’t wait to seek help if sex is painful and you have other symptoms of endometriosis. A visit to Alpenglow Gynecology is an important part of your diagnosis.
Because the endometrial tissue keeps growing cycle after cycle, it often grows on and around your intestinal tract and other organs. As a result, many women experience constipation, difficult or painful bowel movements, diarrhea, and other types of intestinal distress. In fact, many women have been diagnosed with IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) but are really suffering from endometriosis.
For many women, having trouble getting pregnant is one of the first signs they have endometriosis. Even if you don’t have other symptoms but have been struggling to conceive, endometriosis could be the root cause. The sooner you visit Alpenglow Gynecology and are diagnosed, the sooner you can begin treatments to help you preserve your fertility and begin your family.
If you’re concerned about endometriosis or if you have additional questions, contact Rickie Guida, WHNP- BC, and the team at Alpenglow Gynecology in Littleton, Colorado to schedule an appointment or book online now!
