You May Have Endometriosis if You Experience These Symptoms

Many people brush off painful periods, bloating, or pelvic discomfort as just a normal part of being a woman, but these symptoms can actually signal something much deeper: endometriosis. This chronic condition occurs when uterine tissue grows outside the uterus, often affecting the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and other pelvic organs. 

Endometriosis is not a rare condition; in fact, around 10% of women and girls of reproductive age, roughly 190 million people worldwide, live with endometriosis. Despite being so common, it often goes undiagnosed for years because its symptoms can mimic other conditions, such as IBS, ovarian cysts, or pelvic inflammatory disease. 

Read on to discover warning signs that may point to endometriosis and where to find the best laparoscopic endometriosis surgeon in Los Angeles for effective and lasting treatment. 

Five Signs You May Have Endometriosis

Endometriosis can look different for everyone, but certain symptoms tend to show up repeatedly. Here are five common indicators to pay attention to.

1. Chronic Pelvic Pain or Severe Menstrual Cramps

Severe pelvic pain is one of the most common and misunderstood signs of endometriosis. This is because, unlike typical menstrual cramps, this pain often begins days before your period starts and can linger well after it ends. For some women, pelvic pain caused by endometriosis shows up as a deep, throbbing ache; for others, it’s a sharp, stabbing pain that interferes with daily life. 

Over time, it can worsen or become a constant background discomfort, not just limited to your menstrual cycle. What makes endometriosis especially complex is that the amount of pain doesn’t always match the severity of the condition. Someone with only a few small endometrial lesions can experience debilitating pain, while another with extensive growths may feel only mild discomfort.

2. Pain with Intercourse, Bowel Movements, or Urination

Many people with endometriosis experience deep or sharp pain during or after intercourse, known as dyspareunia, which can make intimacy difficult or even impossible at times. Pain with bowel movements or urination is also common, especially right before or during your period, when inflammation and tissue swelling peak. 

You may also notice digestive issues such as bloating, cramping, constipation, or diarrhea that come and go with your cycle. These symptoms are often mistaken for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), leading many to seek gastrointestinal care first. But when these problems flare around menstruation, they may actually point to endometriosis affecting the bowel or surrounding tissues. 

3. Heavy bleeding, Irregular Bleeding, or Bleeding Between Periods

Unusually heavy or unpredictable bleeding is another clue that something more than a typical menstrual cycle is going on. If you’re soaking through a pad or tampon in less than an hour, needing to double up on protection, or passing large clots, you may very well be dealing with endometriosis. 

Endometriosis can also cause bleeding or spotting between periods, known as intermenstrual bleeding, because the endometrial-like tissue outside the uterus still responds to hormonal changes and bleeds just like normal uterine tissue. Often brushed off as hormonal fluctuations, some women experience cycles that become longer, shorter, or irregular altogether, making it harder to recognize a clear pattern. 

4. Infertility or Difficulty Getting Pregnant 

Fortunately, not everyone with endometriosis experiences infertility, but it should be one of the first things doctors evaluate when someone is struggling to conceive because it can affect the reproductive system in several ways:

• Causing adhesions or scar tissue that bind organs together
• Distorting the shape of the uterus or fallopian tubes
• Interfering with the release of eggs during ovulation
• Triggering inflammation that makes it harder for an embryo to implant successfully

5. Fatigue and Digestive Issues 

Many women with endometriosis experience deep, persistent fatigue that doesn’t improve with rest. This exhaustion often stems from the body’s ongoing inflammatory response and the physical strain of managing chronic pain. Digestive issues such as bloating, nausea, constipation, or diarrhea are also common and can easily be mistaken for conditions like IBS. On top of that, living with daily discomfort can impact mental health, leading to anxiety, mood swings, or feelings of frustration and hopelessness. 

Getting an Endometriosis Diagnosis and Understanding Treatment Options

Endometriosis can affect your fertility, sexual activity, and overall quality of life. Because it occurs when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside of it, these misplaced cells can form adhesions, scar tissue, and even ovarian cysts called endometriomas. To accurately diagnose and treat endometriosis, a thorough review of your medical history, followed by an imaging test such as an ultrasound or MRI, is necessary. 

Once diagnosed, your treatment options depend on your symptoms, reproductive goals, and risk factors such as family history or prior pelvic surgery. Some patients find relief through hormonal therapies or birth control pills, which can suppress the growth of endometrial-like tissue by regulating the uterine lining and reducing painful cycles. Others benefit from a tailored pain management plan or lifestyle modifications that improve comfort and emotional well-being.

For patients with advanced endometriosis, laparoscopic surgery by the best gynecologic surgeon in Los Angeles offers a minimally invasive way to remove endometrial implants and scar tissue while preserving fertility and reproductive function.

Finding the Best Laparoscopic Endometriosis Surgeon in Los Angeles

Without proper diagnosis and treatment, pelvic pain and endometriosis can take over your life. We’ve built our conveniently located Beverly Hills practice around restoring that freedom with precision, compassion, and trust. As the nation’s most respected expert in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery, Dr. Matthew Siedhoff offers care that blends advanced laparoscopic and robotic techniques with an understanding of what you’ve been through. 

We know that no two women experience endometriosis the same way, which is why we take time to listen, to explain, and to craft a plan that honors your goals, whether that’s relief from pain, preservation of fertility, or simply getting your life back.

Ready to get compassionate care and lasting relief from the best minimally invasive gynecological surgeon in Los Angeles?