Her✺Form
Condition

Endometriosis

Endometriosis affects roughly 1 in 10 women and is consistently under-diagnosed — average delay from first symptom to diagnosis is 7–10 years. It is an inflammatory, estrogen-responsive condition: tissue similar to the uterine lining grows in places it shouldn't (ovaries, pelvis, bowel, occasionally further afield) and bleeds with the cycle, driving pain, adhesions and infertility. No blood test diagnoses endometriosis — only laparoscopy can — but a hormone and inflammation panel rules out other causes and guides management.

Educational information from Her Form — reviewed for accuracy by our health specialists.
Not a substitute for personal medical advice. Optional 1:1 consults with Robyn, our consulting women's-health specialist, are available on request.

Common symptoms

  • •Severe period pain that disrupts work, school or sleep
  • •Pain with sex, bowel movements or urination, especially around periods
  • •Heavy or prolonged periods, clotting
  • •Chronic pelvic pain outside of periods
  • •Difficulty conceiving
  • •Bloating ('endo belly'), fatigue, nausea around the period
  • •Cyclical bowel or bladder symptoms

What drives it

  • •Retrograde menstruation combined with immune-clearance dysfunction
  • •Genetic predisposition (strong family pattern)
  • •Estrogen-responsive tissue growth and local inflammation
  • •Often co-exists with adenomyosis, PCOS or autoimmune disease

Testing approach

Endometriosis is a formal medical and surgical diagnosis — bloods can't confirm it. What bloods do is rule out anaemia from heavy bleeding, exclude thyroid disease as a pain driver, assess ovarian reserve if fertility is a concern, and baseline inflammation. We test ferritin, full thyroid, estradiol, progesterone, AMH and CRP where indicated.

What to do next

  • ✓Track pain and bleed patterns for at least one full cycle
  • ✓Get a pelvic ultrasound with an operator experienced in endometriosis
  • ✓See a gynaecologist with an endometriosis specialty — generalist care often misses it
  • ✓Address anaemia from heavy bleeding — it amplifies fatigue and brain fog
  • ✓Consider hormonal suppression (progestin-only or continuous combined) while you investigate

Frequently asked

Can a blood test diagnose endometriosis?

No. Endometriosis can only be confirmed by laparoscopic surgery with biopsy. Bloods rule out the conditions that mimic it and guide management.

What is the average delay in diagnosis?

Globally, 7–10 years from first symptom to diagnosis. The single biggest thing women can do is bring tracked, written symptom data to their first specialist visit.

Will endometriosis stop me getting pregnant?

Many women with endometriosis conceive naturally. About 30–50% experience reduced fertility — testing AMH and getting a specialist review early protects your options.

Does pregnancy or menopause cure endometriosis?

Neither is a cure. Pregnancy can give temporary relief; menopause reduces but doesn't always eliminate symptoms, especially if you're on HRT.

Is endometriosis the same as adenomyosis?

No — adenomyosis is endometrial tissue inside the uterine muscle. They often co-exist and cause similar symptoms but are managed differently.

Does diet help endometriosis?

An anti-inflammatory pattern (omega-3, lower alcohol, lower ultra-processed food) modestly reduces pain in studies. It supports, but doesn't replace, medical and surgical treatment.

Can endometriosis come back after surgery?

Yes — recurrence rates are 20–50% over 5 years without hormonal suppression. Most specialists pair excision surgery with ongoing hormonal management.

References

References are provided for educational context only. Her Form is not affiliated with these organisations. Always interpret results with a qualified healthcare professional.

Information on this page is educational — wellness framing, not medical diagnosis. Always interpret results with a doctor who knows your history.