Endometriosis Comorbidities

Endometriosis is a disease that occurs when tissue similar to the uterine lining is found in other places of the body like colon, ovaries, Fallopian tubes, as well as others.

Because endometriosis can be found anywhere in the body causing a wide range of symptoms, it also comes with other chronic illnesses or comorbidities.

Comorbidities associated with endometriosis include, but are not limited to:

• Vitamin d deficiency: not having an adequate amount of vitamin d in the body​ and is diagnosed from blood work.
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): a chronic condition that affects the long intestine. Symptoms include: cramping, bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhea or constipation, and gas and is usually diagnosed by medical history and ruling out other illnesses.
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): occurs when the body has abnormal hormone levels leading to no or decreased ovulation. Symptoms include: irregular periods, long periods, heavy bleeding, hair growth in unwanted places, abnormal hormone levels, insulin resistance, and weight gain and is diagnosed by hormone blood work, ultrasound, and medical history. 
• Interstitial cystitis (IC): a painful chronic bladder condition. Symptoms include: chronic urinary tract infections (UTI) and bladder pain. It's usually diagnosed by symptoms/medical history, urine culture, and potassium sensitivity test.
• Adenomyosis: tissue found in the muscle of the uterus. Symptoms include: heavy bleeding, abdominal pain, cramping, and bloating. The only true way to diagnose and treat is to have a hysterectomy.  
• Osteoporosis: thinning of the bones below a certain level that can lead to breaks and is diagnosed by having a bone density test. 
• Depression: a mental health disorder that occurs when someone has a consistently depressed mood and loses interest in activities. Usually, a psychiatrist will diagnose and treat. 
• Fibromyalgia: musculoskeletal pain found throughout the body. Symptoms include: pain throughout the body, fatigue, trouble sleeping, trouble with memory, and mood swings. To diagnose, doctors usually rule out other conditions first and use medical history. 

As you can see, many of these illnesses have symptoms that overlap, which can make it difficult to receive the proper diagnosis. I have talked to many people who suffer with endometriosis and have also been diagnosed with other illnesses. It's important that we listen to our bodies and advocate for ourselves as much as we can to receive diagnosis and treatment for our illnesses. Unfortunately, we can't only rely on our doctors.

Personally, I was diagnosed with endometriosis in 2010. I have also been diagnosed with vitamin D deficiency, IBS, PCOS, IC, and osteoporosis. 

I hope you find this information helpful in your health journey.

Take care,
💛Samantha