Severe menstrual pain is not normal. If you experience severe pain during your period it is possible you are suffering from an under-diagnosed disease called Endometriosis.

Endometrial tissue lines the uterus. In response to hormonal influences, the endometrium of a healthy uterus thickens and then sheds through the cervix, through the vagina and out of your body. This is your normal period and it should not hurt!

When endometrial tissue implants outside of the uterus, it also thickens and needs to shed, but there is no outlet. These implants can adhere to other organs such as the bowel and bladder; they can cause cyclical urinary and bowel dysfunction, severe pain, pain with intercourse, bloating, and nausea.  One in ten women have endometriosis; it is the leading cause of pain in women, and it is responsible for more than half of all female infertility.

Studies show that it takes women an average of 11.4 years in the United States to get diagnosed with endometriosis.  Many people do not realize that pelvic floor dysfunction and other musculoskeletal impairments are common in women with endometriosis and can be contributing to their symptoms. Pelvic floor physical therapy can help.