Symptoms of endometriosis (in the intestine, bladder and ovaries)

Endometriosis is a syndrome that causes symptoms such as severe pelvic pain, heavy menstruation and even infertility, due to the growth of endometrial tissue (which lines the uterus) in other locations such as the ovaries, bladder or intestine.

The intensity and frequency of symptoms can vary from month to month and from one woman to another and, therefore, diagnosis can be quite difficult.

If endometriosis is suspected, it is very important to consult a gynecologist to carry out some tests, such as a pelvic ultrasound, to confirm the diagnosis and start treatment, which does not cure the disease, but helps to alleviate the symptoms.

Online Endometriosis Test

If you think you may have endometriosis, select your symptoms to find out your risk of having the syndrome:

The symptom test is only a guidance tool and does not serve as a diagnosis or replace consultation with a general practitioner or gynecologist.

Symptoms of each type of endometriosis

Depending on the location affected by the growth of uterus tissue, there are different types of endometriosis, with symptoms that vary:

1. Endometriose intestinal

The main symptoms of intestinal endometriosis are:

• Constipation with very strong cramps;
• Blood in the stool;
• Pain that worsens when defecating;
• Feeling of a very swollen belly;
• Persistent pain in the rectum.

Symptoms of intestinal endometriosis appear when tissue from the uterus develops inside the intestine. Initially, one may suspect a disease in the intestine, such as irritable bowel, Crohn’s syndrome or colitis, however, after a more in-depth evaluation by a gastroenterologist, one may begin to suspect endometriosis, and it may be necessary to consult a gynecologist.

2. Endometriosis in the ovaries

Ovarian endometriosis, also known as endometrioma, is characterized by the growth of the endometrium around the ovaries and, in these cases, the symptoms are almost always the most generic, such as intense pain in the pelvic region, excessive menstrual bleeding and pain during sexual intercourse. .

3. Endometriosis in the bladder

The main symptoms of bladder endometriosis are:

• Pelvic pain that worsens when urinating;
• Presence of pus or blood in the urine;
• Severe pain during intimate contact;
• Frequent urge to urinate and feeling of a full bladder.

Some women may only present one or two of these more specific symptoms and, therefore, in some cases, endometriosis in the bladder may take time to be correctly identified, as the first diagnosis is usually a urinary infection. However, symptoms do not improve with antibiotics.

How to confirm the diagnosis

The gynecologist can suspect endometriosis just by evaluating the symptoms described by the woman. However, it is necessary to have a pelvic ultrasound to confirm the diagnosis and rule out other options such as ovarian cysts, for example.

In addition, the doctor may also order a tissue biopsy, which is performed with a small surgery in which a small tube with a camera at the end is introduced through a cut in the skin, allowing the inside of the pelvic region to be observed and tissue samples to be collected. which will be analyzed in the laboratory.

Learn more about the symptoms of endometriosis and how to confirm the disease in the following video with Dr Maurício Abrão: