symptoms of endometriosis

Hi Ladies,
Been going through a lot of tests lately and I am wondering if "free pelvic fluid" is a possible sign of endometriosis? They found a small amount of fluid this week during a cat scan I had done. I was told to contact my gyno.
Thanks for any help!
Christy

Re: symptoms of endometriosis

I never heard of free pelvic fluid. However I can tell you that I had no symptoms of endo at all and my doctor didn't even suspect I had it until he went in to do a laparoscopy. Turns out I had it bad!

Re: symptoms of endometriosis

WOW, I think it is so scary that there could be no symptoms!

Re: symptoms of endometriosis

My sister was bleeding A LOT and more often than a normal period. She would have very bad pain.

Re: symptoms of endometriosis

Endometriosis, is definitely something that can cause a ton of symptoms and none at all. They even say, sometimes the worse case of endometriosis has no symptoms and the milder cases have more. The only way to know if you truly have endometriosis is through laproscopic exploratory surgery.

However, pelvic fluid is something usually different than endometriosis. Sometimes pelvic fluid can cause an infection...so definitely see your ob/gyn.

Re: symptoms of endometriosis

I have stage II endo with a LOT of pain every month. I just had a lap in Feb to have the endo removed. It wouldn't hurt to contact your gyno, but I've never heard of free pelvic fluid as a sympton. The only way to know for sure is for the doctor to do a lap.

Re: symptoms of endometriosis

How do you know to test for it? I just spoke to my doctor and he says I dont need it but I get painful cramps before during and after AF, so what exactly is endometriosis and what symptoms if any do you get to be absolutely sure in fact those cramps are being caused by that.

Re: symptoms of endometriosis

There is no test for endometriosis. It's actually now considered an auto immune disease. The only sure way to know whether you have it or not, is through laproscopic surgery. Usually IVF can bypass endo issues.

To be honest about half the women who have unexplained infertility have endometriosis.....

Endometriosis occurs when the tissue that lines the uterus and is shed during AF and then grows outside of the uterus. If it is growing on the ovaries a doctor can sometimes suspect endometriosis but if it's on other areas that are hidden, they can't tell.

This tissue responds to the hormones of the Af. Estrogen helps build it up and then the decrease of progesterone helps it break down. This tissue will bleed during AF. This can cause irritation.

To be honest with you, if you have a lot of cramps before, during and after AF...that could be a reason to suspect some endo growth.

Re: symptoms of endometriosis

Re: symptoms of endometriosis

You can also test for endo with a pelvic sonogram. Some people have no pain and don't even know they have it.

Re: symptoms of endometriosis

For me, not only do I get heavy menstrual cramps in my uterus, but I get cramping in other areas of my abdomen and that is how I knew I had it. My endo was not detected by any tests until I had my lap. It was under my uterus, on my bladder, and some other places.

Re: symptoms of endometriosis

My sister also need surgery to discover her endo. If you feel that is a problem and is hindering your TTC efforts, find a new OB who is willing to listen and help figure out this problem