Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside it, often causing pain and inflammation. It affects around 1 in 10 women and people assigned female at birth, yet diagnosis is frequently delayed by years because symptoms are dismissed as “bad periods.”
Common symptoms
- Painful periods that disrupt daily life
- Chronic pelvic pain, including between periods
- Pain during or after sex
- Painful bowel movements or bloating (“endo belly”)
- Fatigue, and in some cases difficulty conceiving
How it’s diagnosed
Endometriosis is diagnosed through a combination of symptom history, pelvic examination, imaging, and sometimes laparoscopy (keyhole surgery), which remains the only way to confirm it definitively. If your period pain regularly stops you from working, studying, or sleeping, that is not something to “push through” — keep a symptom log and seek a clinician who takes it seriously.
Managing pain
Management is individual and may combine pain relief, hormonal treatments to suppress the cycle, anti-inflammatory approaches, pelvic physiotherapy, and surgery to remove lesions. Tracking your pain against your cycle helps you and your provider see patterns and judge what’s working. Compare your experience with our guide on endometriosis vs period pain.