I am 29 and have painful periods. i was wondering if this has to mean I have endometriosis or is it normal to have pain with periods? I have studied this topic but wondered if anybody else had this problem. I am worried it may affect fertility. I refused a laproscopy as my hosp is full of mrsa.
2006-12-22 01:13:33 · 6 answers · asked by Abigail 3 in Health ➔ Women's Health
Painful periods is one defining symptom of endo. However the pain is not menstrual cramps. If you are having pain in the abdomen that are different from menstrual cramps, then it is likely that you have some degree of endo.
My symptoms of endo are: severe pain during my periods (stabbing pains throughout the abdomen that are not menstrual cramps and nothing relieves the pain), clotting during periods (usually golf ball size clots), constipation followed by diarrhea and infertility.
Unfortunately the only definitive way to diagnose endo is through a laproscopy. So if you want relief during your periods and increased chances of fertility then you should consider having the surgery. You could always get a second opinion with a doctor associated with another hospital. Good Luck!
2006-12-22 03:32:28 · answer #1 · answered by KC 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well from personal experience.... I was 16 when I was diagnosed with endometriosis, which is rare, because you normally have children before you develop endometriosis. But it is very painful. I spent many night in the hospital from age 12-16 before they figured out what was wrong. I would double over in pain and black out because the pain was so bad. I had the laporoscopy 3 times, and that is how they found it on me. I did have children, but after my son was born I had a total hysterectomy, I don't think the endometriosis was the reason. But good luck and if I were you I would talk to your OB/GYN and see if he will do the laporoscopy. And the procedure isn't that long..
2006-12-22 09:19:00 · answer #2 · answered by Kimberly K 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Unfortunately, the only way to get a sure diagnosis of endometriosis is a laparoscopy/biopsy. You can ask for an MRI or ultrasound, which will show large growths, but the official diagnosis still requires surgery. Could you perhaps seek out another hospital with better anti-infection precautions?
Painful periods can be caused by a lot of things, and often the only diagnosis you can get is "we dunno what's going on in there". I've put in the wikipedia link for Dysmenorrhea so you can get an idea of what may be happening
2006-12-22 09:23:27 · answer #3 · answered by MissA 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Besides talking to a doctor about what is going on, the only other thing you can do is have a laporoscopy done. I have been dealing w/ Endo for the past 6 years, and I have had 3 laps done myself. Endo will not show up on X-rays, Ct scans, sonograms, or MRI's. If you don't want to have it done at that hospital do you have another one you can go to? the last one I had was back in Sept of this year and I was up and moving again w/in 2 days.
Good luck. I can honestly say I know your pain.
2006-12-22 12:32:39 · answer #4 · answered by gethelp9 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
i have very painful periods and do not endometriosis. there is usually some cramping with headaches and back aches. when i was a teenager they were so painful that i got physically sick (vomiting) for the first 3 days. you should go to the doc and see. endometriosis can cause infertility so it is best that you call your gyno ASAP and make an appt just to be safe.
2006-12-22 09:19:08 · answer #5 · answered by mel2430 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I had no painful periods but irregular bleeding and spotting. The doctor performed a laparoscopy and was shocked to find endometriosis since I had no symptoms of it. There is medication for it.
2006-12-22 10:53:16 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋