Wy wife experienced severe pain the other night in her abdomen after a bowl movement. The pain lasted for a while that night and to a lesser extent the next day. She has also experienced some pain while having sex lately. She probably is about 1 week away from her period. I read somewhere that Endometriosis might be the problem, but I know that it could be a variety of things. She is going to the doctor soon, but please tell whether or not her symptoms are consistent with that problem or something else.
Google. “Symptoms endometriosis”.
You might have her look into bladder and pelvic infections too, since they share the symptoms you mentioned.
here we go…md consult pointed me towards “Kistner’s Gynecology & Women’s Health, 7th ed”
Although endometriosis was described in detail more than 100 years ago, it continues to be one of the unsolved enigmatic diseases affecting women. The first known report was written by Rokitansky (Rokitansky, 1860). After this, only a few scattered reports appeared until almost 1900, when Cullen (1896) published extensive descriptions of his findings. Yet 40 years later, Cattell and Swinton were able to document fewer than 20 reports of endometriosis in the world literature (Cattell and Swinton, 1936). In 1921, Sampson published the first of his series of reports and recorded for posterity his theory of retrograde menstruation as the causative factor in the disease (Sampson, 1921). His articles awakened wide interest, even controversy, and today his theory kindles as much heated debate among physicians as it did after the publication of his first reports.
Endometriosis may be defined as the presence of functioning endometrial tissue outside the uterus. It is usually confined to the pelvis in the region of the ovaries, uterosacral ligaments, cul-de-sac, and uterovesical peritoneum. The development and extension of endometrial tissue into the myometrium is termed adenomyosis. This disease entity is probably unrelated histogenetically and is characterized by a different clinical situation. It should be iterated that the term endometriosis implies proliferating growth and function (usually bleeding) in an extrauterine site. An endometrioma may be defined as an area of endometriosis, usually in the ovary, that has enlarged sufficiently to be classified as a tumor. When an endometrioma is filled with old blood, resembling tar or chocolate syrup, it is commonly known as a chocolate cyst.
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Treatment of pelvic pain in patients with endometriosis is complex and often requires a multidisciplinary approach. Combinations of nonnarcotic analgesics with hormonal treatments such as danazol, the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists, and progestins have been successful. Long-term treatment with GnRH-agonists is possible using hormonal “add-back” therapy.
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The pregnancy rates in endometriosis-associated infertility are improved by operative laparoscopic treatment. Hormonal treatment of endometriosis should be reserved for patients not attempting conception.
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Empiric therapies for infertile patients with endometriosis are often successful. These include ovulation induction with clomiphene citrate and intrauterine inseminations (IUI), gonadotropins and IUI, and in vitro fertilization.
Patients with endometriosis typically have pelvic pain, infertility, or a pelvic mass. Therapeutic interventions should be designed to resolve the patient’s specific problem.
“please tell whether or not her symptoms are consistent with that problem or something else.”
An awful lot of things can cause abdominal pain associated with bowel movents and sexual intercourse. Endometriosis is a possibility but way down on the list of likely causes (unless there are other reasons for suspecting endometriosis such as infertility).
From your brief description, it sounds like even an experienced MD who interviews and examines your wife could find it difficult or even impossible to make a definite diagnosis so anything you get on this board in response to your post is pure speculation.