“Who among us doesn’t complain about digestive issues… gas and bloating, indigestion, constipation, diarrhea… pain on the right or left side, and sometimes even radiating to the back? And the most common thing we say is: ‘Sorry, it’s just my irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).’ 🚩
But is it really IBS? Or could it be Endometriosis? 🎗️
Endometriosis is a chronic condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus, on various other organs. It affects about 10% of women of reproductive age and can cause pain, delayed fertility, and sometimes infertility. 🤦
When endometriosis affects the intestines, it’s often misdiagnosed as IBS 🤷. This happens when the endometrial lesions grow on the peritoneum (the membrane lining the abdominal cavity and covering the abdominal organs), the rectum, intestines, and deeper layers of the bowel, as shown in the image.
Symptoms of bowel endometriosis typically begin to appear during adolescence. About 80% of adolescent patients experience abdominal pain during menstruation, such as discomfort, gas, bloating, and diarrhea. Over time, the condition progresses and the pain becomes more severe and sharp, often accompanied by pain during intercourse, along with alternating constipation, diarrhea, and bloating. These symptoms can even appear in the early stages of the disease, like stage one or two.
We understand that getting a diagnosis is challenging and will require effort and time… but we want you to pay attention to the signs — especially if these symptoms coincide with your menstrual cycle.”**