Endometriosis Information:

Pelvic Health 101
Understanding the Basic Principles of Pain, Inflammation, and Myofascial Trigger Points

Endometriosis occurs when the tissue which lines the inside of uterus grows outside the uterus (It isn’t supposed to grow outside of the uterus). It usually grows on the surfaces of organs in the pelvic and abdominal areas.

Health care providers call the areas of endometriosis by different names, such as implants, lesions, or nodules.

Endometriosis is often referred to as Endo.

Endo can affect any menstruating woman. It can affect women from the time of her first period to menopause. Factors such as whether or not she has children, her race or ethnicity, or her socio-economic status have no bearing.

Endometriosis can sometimes persist after menopause, or even after a hysterectomy.

How do I know if I have endometriosis?

Health care providers use a number of tests for endometriosis. Sometimes, they will use imaging tests to produce a “picture” of the inside of the body. The picture allows them to locate larger endometriosis areas, such as nodules or cysts. The two most common imaging tests are ultrasound (a machine that uses sound waves to make the picture - like what is used in pregnancy to see the fetus), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a machine that uses magnets and radio waves to make the picture.

Surgery is the only 100% accurate way to diagnose Endo. The most common type of surgery is called laparoscopy. In this procedure, the surgeon inflates the abdomen slightly with a harmless gas. After making a small cut in the abdomen, the surgeon uses a small viewing instrument with a light, called a laparoscope, to look at the reproductive organs, intestines, and other surfaces to see if there is any endo.

The doctor can make a diagnosis based on the appearance of endometriosis. This diagnosis can then be confirmed by doing a biopsy, which involves taking a small tissue sample and studying it under a microscope.

Seeing your doctor as soon as symptoms appear is helpful. Be prepared to share your full medical history and examine all options to make sure you make the best decision for an accurate diagnosis for you.

What are the symptoms of endometriosis?

The most common symptoms of endometriosis is pain -- mostly in the abdomen, lower back, and pelvic areas.

The amount of pain a woman feels is not directly linked to how much endo she has. Some women have no pain even though their endo is extensive. Some women, on the other hand, have severe pain even though they have only a few small areas of endometriosis.

General symptoms of endometriosis can include (but are not limited to):

• Extremely painful (or disabling) menstrual cramps; pain may get worse over time
• Chronic pelvic pain (includes lower back pain and pelvic pain)
• Pain during/after sex
• Intestinal pain
• Painful bowel movements (or painful urination) during menstrual periods
• Heavy menstrual periods (especially if this is a recent development)
• Infertility
• Fatigue

Additionally, women who are diagnosed with endo may have gastrointestinal symptoms that resemble a bowel disorder.

Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy and Endo

Although Pelvic floor physical therapy can not cure or get rid of endometriosis, it can help alleviate pain with intercourse, some of the general pelvic pain and also some bowel and bladder pains. Contact a physical therapist or ask the doctor treating you for endometriosis how YOU can benefit from pelvic floor physical therapy.

Popular Search Terms

women’s health therapy
urinary urgency
stress incontinence
painful sex
pelvic floor
pelvic floor dysfunction
pelvic muscle
pelvic therapy
interstitial cystitis
kegel
abdominal pain
biofeedback for bladder control
bladder control
bladder pain
chronic pelvic pain
chronic vaginal pain