Signs that You May Have Endometriosis

I have suffered with endometriosis for years. With each child it has either subsided for a while or reared it's ugly head even worse. Getting solid and understandable information about it can be a challenging, time consuming and confusing task! Here's a little bit of what the medical community says about this condition. Please keep in mind that it is intended to inform not prescribe and that there are other theories out there about endometriosis - it's causes and treatments.

Endometriosis is a common, but not well known condition that can occur in menstruating women. While symptoms normally start out mild, they can become severe and even lead to infertility. This is why it’s so important for all women who get their period to understand what this disease is and how to spot it. That way, it can be diagnosed and treated before the damage is too extensive.

Every month, menstruating women develop a layer of endometrial cells inside their uterus. In women with endrometriosis, for reasons that aren’t entirely clear, these cells grow up and outside the uterus as well as inside.

When a woman has her period, these endometrial cells leave the body, but if they are not inside the uterus, they have no way to escape. These cells can grow on, into, and between the uterus, ovaries, bowels, and bladder. Very rarely the growths can spread even further, which is much more serious. The most common location or these growths is on the ovaries.

The problem with endometriosis is that many women don’t have any symptoms, or the symptoms remain so mild that their condition is not detected for many years. That’s why it’s important to have regular pelvic exams. While pain and infertility are the easiest ways to realize you have endometriosis, your doctor may also be able to catch it during routine examinations.

The most common symptoms are:

* Painful menstrual cramps that worsen with time. While you may have cramps when you first start getting your period, they should worsen with endometriosis due to the growth that usually occurs with each cycle.
* Persistent pain in the back or lower abdomen.
* Pain during sexual intercourse, urination, or bowel movements. These symptoms are more likely during menstruation.
* Heavy periods, short menstrual cycle (less than 27 days), and spotting between cycles. Because this is considered the cause of endometriosis, this should start before any other symptoms appear and often occurs as soon as you start getting your period. Many women with endometriosis also started getting their period at an early age.
* Infertility. Many women don’t discover they have endometriosis until they see a fertility specialist because they have been unsuccessful at conceiving.
* Fatigue. This may be mild or more severe.

If you have some or all of these symptoms, it’s important for you to talk to a doctor right away. Because symptoms come on slowly or are nonexistent, it may take a while to recognize what’s wrong and can keep you from being treated. Also, many of these symptoms are associated with other potentially serious problems. Your doctor can help you sort out your symptoms and receive proper treatment.

This Information Could Save Your Life!

As many of you know I like to wander around the Mom-Blogosphere fairly regularly to see what's going on with everyone and to meet other moms! Usually I read about other moms' lives that are similar to mine - going through the daily motions of motherhood and enjoying (usually) watching our children grow.

Every once in a while though I stumble upon something much more serious! I've talked in the past about Heather and Parker and their needs, and now I have another family to add - WhyMommy over at Toddler Planet has recently discovered that she has breast cancer! She is the mother of two young children - in fact she was still breastfeeding the littlest one and had to wean him in order to begin her cancer treatments! She has written a poignant blog entry about it and has asked for other bloggers to share her story - I am doing so below. So take a moment and read it - this knowledge can save a woman's life!

We hear a lot about breast cancer these days. One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetimes, and there are millions living with it in the U.S. today alone. But did you know that there is more than one type of breast cancer?

I didn’t. I thought that breast cancer was all the same. I figured that if I did my monthly breast self-exams, and found no lump, I’d be fine.

Oops. It turns out that you don’t have to have a lump to have breast cancer. Six weeks ago, I went to my OB/GYN because my breast felt funny. It was red, hot, inflamed, and the skin looked…funny. But there was no lump, so I wasn’t worried. I should have been. After a round of antibiotics didn’t clear up the inflammation, my doctor sent me to a breast specialist and did a skin punch biopsy. That test showed that I have inflammatory breast cancer, a very aggressive cancer that can be deadly.

Inflammatory breast cancer is often misdiagnosed as mastitis because many doctors have never seen it before and consider it rare. “Rare” or not, there are over 100,000 women in the U.S. with this cancer right now; only half will survive five years. Please call your OB/GYN if you experience several of the following symptoms in your breast, or any unusual changes: redness, rapid increase in size of one breast, persistent itching of breast or nipple, thickening of breast tissue, stabbing pain, soreness, swelling under the arm, dimpling or ridging (for example, when you take your bra off, the bra marks stay – for a while), flattening or retracting of the nipple, or a texture that looks or feels like an orange (called peau d’orange). Ask if your GYN is familiar with inflammatory breast cancer, and tell her that you’re concerned and want to come in to rule it out.

There is more than one kind of breast cancer. Inflammatory breast cancer is the most aggressive form of breast cancer out there, and early detection is critical. It’s not usually detected by mammogram. It does not usually present with a lump. It may be overlooked with all of the changes that our breasts undergo during the years when we’re pregnant and/or nursing our little ones. It’s important not to miss this one.

Inflammatory breast cancer is detected by women and their doctors who notice a change in one of their breasts. If you notice a change, call your doctor today. Tell her about it. Tell her that you have a friend with this disease, and it’s trying to kill her. Now you know what I wish I had known before six weeks ago.

You don’t have to have a lump to have breast cancer.

P.S. Feel free to steal this post too. I’d be happy for anyone in the blogosphere to take it and put it on their site, no questions asked. Dress it up, dress it down, let it run around the place barefoot. I don’t care. But I want the word to get out. I don’t want another young mom — or old man — or anyone in between — to have to stare at this thing on their chest and wonder, is it mastitis? Is it a rash? Am I overreacting? This cancer moves FAST, and early detection and treatment is critical for survival.

Remember this information as it could save your life or the life of a woman you know!

Great Health Resources Online

As you know we are always on the lookout for even more great information for you to have at your fingertips! Well, here's a great list of ebooks and resources that are affordable and helpful! Today we will focus on resources for Healthy Pregnancy and conception!


Pregnancy without Pounds offers you a look good and feel great pregnancy kit!

Personal Path to Pregnancy offers you Powerhouse Strategies And Tips To Increase Your Odds Of Getting Pregnant.

Imagine Being Able To Know Everything Your Pregnant Body Is Doing And Why, What To Expect At All Times In Your Pregnancy! Click Here! To get more information about "Amazing Pregnancy Secrets"

Pain Free Pregnancy ~ Eliminate Morning Sickness, Insomnia, And Back Pain. Get Rid Of Headaches In Under 6 Minutes And Learn How To Speed Up Labor!


That's it for today! We'll be adding more soon!