Endometriosis: More Than Just Painful Periods

Chronic pelvic pain -- which usually occurs during menstruation -- is the most common indication of endometriosis, an incurable inflammation that can lead to infertility, an expert said

About 10 percent of women have this disorder, where tissue that normally lines the uterus grows outside the uterus and can spread to areas such as the fallopian tubes, ovaries and pelvis

"The most common symptom of endometriosis is menstrual pain," says Minimally Invasive gynecology Surgery at Penn State Health Milton S.

"We're talking about a pain that doesn't go away with simple treatments, like over-the-counter medications

Usually, the pain occurs before, during, or after your period

"Some people feel pain and then get relief for a long time," Riley said

It takes an average of 7 to 10 years for a woman to be diagnosed, mainly because there is no non-invasive test for endometriosis

"We could try MRI or ultrasound, but most women with endometriosis have normal pelvic imaging," Riley said

However, treatment can begin before a doctor confirms the disease

Treatments include anti-inflammatory drugs—suppressing menstruation with birth control pills, progesterone pills, or an IUD; other hormone therapy; neuralgia medications or drugs specific to endometriosis, and laparoscopic surgery to remove abnormal tissue

Most of the endometriosis patients Riley saw were in their 30s and 40s, but some were in their teens or 50s

"Most patients experience less pain after menopause, but a small percentage of patients continue to have pain," she said