What Is Endometriosis?

It makes sense that people who have rare diseases often struggle to find answers. After all, it’s not easy for doctors to diagnose a disease that they’re not familiar with. That’s what makes endometriosis so unusual. It’s a common condition, affecting about one in 10 women in the United States, according to the U.S. Office on Women’s Health. Despite this, many women suffer with endometriosis symptoms for years before they get an accurate diagnosis.

What makes “endo” tough to diagnose is that the symptoms can overlap with other issues. Heavy and painful periods can have many causes. Plus, the only true way to diagnose and confirm endometriosis is with surgery. Although everyone’s periods are different, severe pain and frequent breakthrough bleeding are not “normal.” You should talk to your doctor if you have heavy and painful periods that really disrupt your life. If you do have endometriosis, your doctor can help you start a journey to finding some relief.

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Written by:

Lauren Smith, MA

Lauren Smith, MA, has worked in health journalism since 2017. Before joining GoodRx, she was the senior health editor and writer for HealthiNation.

Reviewed by:

Mera Goodman, MD, FAAP

Dr. Mera Goodman is a board-certified pediatrician. Prior to medicine, she worked as a management consultant.

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