Endometriosis symptoms | 6 common signs

Jana Stehler is a former Hyrox athlete, a champion of new beginnings, and someone living with endometriosis. In this article, she takes us into her world and shares her experiences with the disease. She considers the following aspects particularly important: Endometriosis symptoms, which are often overlooked or dismissed by doctors as normal menstrual cycle symptoms.
On Instagram She explains the disease and gives further insights into her everyday life with endometriosis – feel free to drop by!

What is endometriosis?

Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory disease, Endometrial tissue, which is tissue similar to the lining of the uterus, grows outside the uterine cavity – for example, on the ovaries, in the abdominal and pelvic cavities, on the intestines, on the bladder, on the ureters, and on the peritoneum. It can even occur outside the abdominal cavity, e.g., in the lungs. It is assumed that, just like the normal uterine lining, the endometrial tissue also builds up and breaks down periodically during the menstrual cycle, bleeding. However, the tissue shed with the bleeding cannot leave the body. It accumulates in the body, e.g., in the abdominal cavity, in the form of... Endometriosis lesions or on the ovaries in the form of cysts. These cysts are also called "chocolate cysts" because of the bleeding they contain. This is precisely what often causes severe pain and other endometriosis symptoms.

Your knowledge to go: Endometriosis symptoms

• The Symptoms Endometriosis can spread over the whole body and are not, as many assume, only recognizable by severe period pain.

• Endometriosis symptoms and pain are frequently diagnosed late as such and often by doctors: not taken seriously. If you feel like you're not making any progress, get the opinions of different experts and definitely don't give up.

• The most common signs of endometriosis: Endometriosis symptoms include abdominal distension (very bloated), extreme abdominal pain before/during menstruation, cycle-independent pain, digestive problems such as severe bloating, pain during sexual intercourse, reduced fertility, and severe exhaustion.

• Endometriosis can occur in various locations, including the ovaries, in the Abdominal and pelvic region, at Colon, at the bladder and/or at peritoneum This can occur. In rare cases, other body regions are also affected, such as... z.B. the lungs.

My endometriosis experiences

Endometriosis is painful and often goes undetected for years – as was the case for me. It's been exactly ten years since my first laparoscopy, and I only received the diagnosis six months ago. How is that possible?

In 2016, a chocolate cyst was removed from my ovaries, but I wasn't told after the surgery that I had endometriosis. Six years ago, I stopped taking the pill to live hormone-free. Two years later, the pain before and during my period became increasingly unbearable, to the point of almost fainting. Endometriosis symptoms are often dismissed as "normal period pain." However, such severe pain is not normal and should be taken seriously. Severe menstrual pain is a very common symptom—however, the pain can occur both cycle-related and unrelated to the menstrual cycle.

My endometriosis symptoms summarized: Extreme endometrial swelling, digestive problems (bloating, pain during bowel movements, etc.), unexplained exhaustion, extremely long menstrual cycles (sometimes up to 50 days), increasingly lighter periods, foul-smelling urine (due to endometriosis on the bladder/ureters), and pain during intercourse. And worst of all were the endometriosis flare-up symptoms: I would lie there, unable to move, constantly on the verge of calling an ambulance, and crawl on all fours to the medicine cabinet. It felt like I was going to pass out at any moment.

In July 2025, I had another operation, but only on suspicion, because nothing showed up on the ultrasound. The result? An outpatient procedure turned into an inpatient stay, and the suspicion became stage 4 endometriosis affecting my bowel, bladder, ureters, ovaries, peritoneum, and pelvis. And I thought the pain was from stress—no joke. I always thought I was exaggerating and that it was normal, as I had struggled with severe period pain, irregular cycles and spotting since childhood.

That's why I want to tell you: pay attention to your body and when it sends you signals, don't stop following them.

Endometriosis symptoms explained in detail

Cycle-related pain
Among the most common symptoms of endometriosis are pains associated with the menstrual cycle. These include severe menstrual cramps that are more intense than usual and can worsen over the years. The pain can be felt in the lower abdomen, pelvic area, or lower back. Additionally, menstruation may be unusually heavy or light.

Pain outside of menstruation
Some women experience pain independently of their menstrual cycle. This pain can be constant or occur in specific situations, such as during sexual intercourse or physical exertion. Intermenstrual bleeding may also occur periodically.

Gastrointestinal and urinary tract complaints
Endometriosis can be accompanied by digestive problems such as bloating, diarrhea, or constipation, especially during menstruation. Pain during urination or bowel movements are also possible symptoms of endometriosis, depending on which organs are affected.

Exhaustion and reduced performance
Many sufferers report pronounced fatigue or exhaustion. This can be related to both the pain and the course of the illness.

Unfulfilled desire to have children
Endometriosis can impair fertility. Some women only seek medical help if they haven't been able to conceive for an extended period.

Different manifestations of endometriosis symptoms
The intensity of symptoms is not always directly related to the size of the endometriosis lesions. While some sufferers experience severe pain, others feel few or no symptoms of endometriosis.

Conclusion: Endometriosis symptoms

Endometriosis is also often referred to as the Chameleon of gynecology Endometriosis is a condition characterized by the development and causes of endometriosis, but it is gaining increasing attention. If you notice that many endometriosis symptoms apply to you, don't panic. My tip: Write down all the symptoms you have and make an appointment with a doctor.If you are not being taken seriously, look online for doctors in your area who specialize in endometriosis and get a second opinion.

Do you have any questions? Then feel free to write us an email. Mail We look forward to hearing from you! :)

The information shared in this article does not replace individual medical or nutritional advice.

literature & Sources

1. AOK (2022). Endometriosis diagnosis: How to alleviate the symptoms.
2. Endometriosis Association Germany e.V. (2025). What is endometriosis?
3. Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (2025). Endometriosis: A disease that affects millions.
4. NDR (2025). Endometriosis: Symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment. Health guide.