7 Uncommon Symptoms of Endometriosis

If you’re an endowarrior, you’ve probably researched the signs and symptoms of endometriosis until you couldn’t stare at your screen any longer (been there done that!). It’s exhausting trying to figure out whether the symptoms you’re experiencing are related to your endo or something else. Uncommon symptoms of endometriosis often cause our bodies to trick even doctors into thinking it's something else. 

When you start the process of investigating your symptoms as someone with endo, it’s often (but not always) related to your painful periods—but this is far from the only symptom that stems from endo. Pelvic pain, in general, is widely experienced by those who are diagnosed with endometriosis. But what if you start to have other painful symptoms out-of-the-blue? These symptoms tend to be ignored or written off as other conditions, leading to incorrect treatment methods.  

No worries, endobabes! I’m here to help you navigate all the often confusing and downright frustrating symptoms that pop up due to an endometriosis diagnosis. My goal is to help you feel less alone and uncover your truth about taking control of your own health, especially when the healthcare system seems to fail women on repeat.   

Let’s explore some of the uncommon symptoms of endometriosis you may be experiencing:  

Lower Right Quadrant Pain 

When you go to the doctor for lower right quadrant pain, the first thing that comes to mind for doctors is appendicitis. For those who don’t have endometriosis, the diagnosis is often correct, and removing the appendix does the trick for severe pain.  

After getting my appendix removed, I thought I would have some sort of relief. Unfortunately, even after this surgery, my right lower quadrant pain was still there. Thankfully, I don’t experience this symptom as often anymore, but it was a pain that I felt nonstop in my late teens and 20s.   

Rectum Pain 

You know the feeling—it hits you like a lightning bolt. You get completely clenched up and uncomfortable when rectum pain strikes. Considering that endometriosis is an inflammatory condition, this can lead to mild or severe gastrointestinal complications. When endometriosis implants on the bowels, it can cause rectum pain, constipation, rectal bleeding, diarrhea, SIBO, slowed motility, nausea and painful bowel movements. Another thing to note is that some lesions may also lie in the perianal area (right behind the anus), leading to back pain.  

Inconsistent Period Flow 

I’ve gone through enough underwear to finally realize how inconsistent period flows can be with endometriosis. My period flow might start, then stop and start again. I was so relieved to know that I wasn’t the only one dealing with this endo symptom. It’s one of the uncommon symptoms of endometriosis that’s difficult to pinpoint when it happens, leading to a lot of confusion around its cause.  

Tracking your menstrual cycle and using something like the DUTCH cycle mapping to assess hormonal fluctuations can help. When I did this for my own cycle, I was able to see that my estrogen peaked slightly around the time my flow started up again. Knowing your body and your monthly cycle is essential!  

Painful Urination 

Can endometriosis cause UTI symptoms? Yes! Bladder endometriosis symptoms you may experience, like painful urination, can be very similar to urinary tract infection (UTI) symptoms. Since endo can also affect the bladder, as well as the ureters leading into the bladder, it may impact the flow of urine from the kidneys. This makes UTIs more common for those with endometriosis, which can affect long-term kidney function and contribute to painful bladder syndrome, also known as interstitial cystitis (IC). IC can cause bladder inflammation, bladder tenderness, and pelvic pain.   

Skin Conditions Such as Rosacea 

Did you know endometriosis can also affect your skin? With so much internal inflammation, people may see an increase in skin sensitivity. For me, I had terrible, embarrassing rosacea as a child and teen. Little did I know this was one of the symptoms associated with endometriosis. Endometriosis may also increase the chances of developing other skin conditions, such as eczema, psoriasis, and atopic dermatitis. Skin conditions due to endo may cause itchiness, redness, dryness, and overall skin discomfort.   

Pain with Intercourse 

If you’re having pain with intercourse and you’re not sure what’s wrong, endo may be to blame! This is something that can take a toll on your relationship—just know that you’re definitely not alone. I was dealing with this and went to my doctor to see what was causing the pain. Turns out I had a huge nodule on my cervix, which was driving a lot of pain with penetration. I’m happy to report that since surgery in 2018, I’m still pain-free with intercourse! It helps to know that there are ways to help treat and alleviate this endo-related symptom.   

Chronic Fatigue 

If it seems like you’re always tired even after getting plenty of sleep, it could be due to your endometriosis. Typically, you can treat regular fatigue by resting and recovering your body. Endometriosis fatigue isn’t just about the amount of sleep you’re getting. When your body constantly deals with hormonal imbalances and recurrent inflammation, your energy levels will take a serious dive throughout the day. Stress due to endo symptoms can contribute to inflammation along with depression or anxiety, which can also be linked to the fatigue you’re feeling.    

Take Control of Your Endo Symptoms 

These uncommon symptoms of endometriosis can hit you when you least expect it. I’ve been there! I’ve dealt with endo symptoms since I got my first period. After I got off birth control and suffered for many years, I decided to use the power of food and nutrition to manage my symptoms. 

That’s when my practice was born. As the Endometriosis Dietitian, I’ve guided hundreds of women to realize they don’t have to let endo symptoms control their lives anymore. Let’s work together to improve your symptoms and get to know what works best for you and your body. Book your free discovery call, send me an email or connect with me on Instagram to get started!