If you suspect endometriosis but aren’t seeing the usual symptoms, watch out for these “silent” signs.
Endometriosis is one of the most common diseases of the female reproductive system. According to the WHO, about 10% of women of childbearing age suffer from the disease. With him, the tissues of the endometrium (the inner lining of the uterine body) grow outside the uterine cavity. The disease makes itself felt with symptoms that are difficult to ignore. These are intense pain during menstruation, sexual intercourse, defecation and/or urination, chronic pelvic pain, bloating, nausea, fatigue.
But the disease can also be asymptomatic. Doctors have called the condition a “silent” endometriosis – but it’s no less serious than its louder counterpart.
So what should you be concerned about.
Fertility issues
Endometriosis is known to cause scar tissue to form in the fallopian tubes, which can prevent conception or cause problems with a fertilized egg implanting in the uterus. If there are no sharp pains, but there are conception issues, this is an opportunity to check out.
Hormonal imbalance
Endometriosis is known to be detrimental to hormonal health, and with latent endometriosis, a blood test may be the only way to know that hormone levels are out of whack. Very high levels of estrogen and low levels of progesterone can be an indicator of the disease.
Ovarian cysts
Most ovarian cysts are also asymptomatic. But if your doctor finds them during a routine ultrasound, that could also signal endometriosis.
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These cysts don’t look like typical ovarian cysts and are filled with old blood, giving them a brownish appearance, doctors say.
Other chronic diseases
According to a 2019 study, women with endometriosis often suffer from autoimmune diseases or other chronic conditions such as gluten intolerance, diabetes, ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, Hashimoto’s disease and other thyroid conditions.
If you suffer from thyroid problems or chronic fatigue, it may be worth making an appointment with a gynecologist to make sure you are not dealing with endometriosis (or to detect the disease in time).
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