Endometriosis is a disease in which the tissue that lines the inside of the uterus, known as the endometrium, grows elsewhere in the body besides the uterus. One of the most affected places is the intestine, and in these cases, the woman may have blood in her stool.
This is because the endometrial tissue in the intestine makes it difficult for the stool to pass, which ends up causing irritation of the intestinal wall and bleeding. However, the presence of blood in the stool can also be caused by other problems such as hemorrhoids, fissures or even colitis, for example. See other common causes of blood in your stool.
Thus, endometriosis is usually only suspected when the woman already has a history of the disease elsewhere or when other symptoms appear, such as:
- Bleeding that worsens during menstruation; Constipation with very painful cramps; Persistent pain in the rectum; Abdominal pain or cramps during intimate contact; Pain when defecating.
In many cases, a woman has only 1 or 2 of these symptoms, but it is also common for all symptoms to appear over several months, which makes diagnosis difficult.
However, if there is a suspicion of endometriosis it is important to consult a gastroenterologist to identify if there are any changes and to initiate appropriate treatment.
How to know if it really is endometriosis
To confirm the presence of endometriosis, the doctor may order tests such as colonoscopy or even a transvaginal ultrasound. If the diagnosis is made, the doctor may also order a laparoscopy to find out the severity of the endometriosis and which organs are affected. Learn more about exams for endometriosis.
If endometriosis is not confirmed, the doctor may order other tests to identify what is causing the bleeding in the stool.
How to treat endometriosis
Treatment for endometriosis can vary according to the affected sites, however, it is almost always started with the use of hormonal remedies, such as contraceptives or anti-hormonal remedies, such as Zoladex, to control the growth of endometrial tissue.
However, when the symptoms are very intense or when the woman wants to get pregnant and therefore does not want to use hormonal drugs, surgery can also be considered, in which the doctor removes excess endometrial tissue from the affected organs. Depending on the degree of endometriosis, there are organs that may have to be completely removed, such as the ovaries, for example.
Better understand how the treatment of endometriosis is done and what options are available.
