For millions of girls and women, what’s dismissed as “bad periods” is actually something far more serious.
Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus (the endometrium) grows outside the uterus — most often on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, pelvic walls, bladder, or intestines. This tissue behaves just like the uterine lining: it thickens, breaks down, and bleeds each month. But because it’s trapped outside the uterus, it has nowhere to go. The result? Inflammation, internal bleeding, and scar tissue called adhesions that can cause severe pain and damage surrounding organs over time.

🔎 Why It Matters

Endometriosis affects roughly 1 in 10 girls and women, yet it often takes 7–10 years to receive a diagnosis. Many young people are told their pain is “normal,” or they’re simply prescribed birth control without investigating the cause. Early detection can change the entire trajectory of a girl’s health — reducing long-term pain, preserving fertility, and improving mental well-being.

⚠️ Physical Symptoms to Watch For

• Severe menstrual cramps that interfere with school, sports, or daily activities.

• Chronic pelvic pain, even outside of your period.

• Pain during bowel movements or urination, especially during menstruation.

• Pain during or after sex (for those who are sexually active).

• Heavy or irregular bleeding, sometimes with clots.

• Digestive issues — constipation, diarrhea, nausea, or bloating (“endo belly”).

• Fatigue and low energy, even with adequate sleep.

• Pain that radiates to the lower back, hips, or thighs.

🚨 If your period pain keeps you in bed, makes you vomit, or requires heavy medication just to function — that’s not normal.

🩸 Why the Pain Happens

The pain of endometriosis is complex. It’s not just the bleeding — it’s the inflammatory chemicals, nerve irritation, and scar tissue that form over time. The condition can even rewire the nervous system, making the body more sensitive to pain signals. This means the longer endo goes untreated, the more the body’s pain pathways become “trained” to react — a process called central sensitization.

💡 What You Can Do

1. Track everything. Note when pain starts, how intense it is, where it occurs, and what helps or worsens it.

2. Advocate for yourself. Bring a trusted adult to appointments, ask specific questions, and insist on further evaluation if symptoms persist.

3. Ask for a referral to a gynecologist who specializes in adolescent endometriosis. Many doctors lack training in early-stage detection.

4. Know that early intervention matters. Managing symptoms now can prevent severe complications later — including infertility or nerve involvement.

👩‍👧 For Parents

If your daughter’s pain is limiting her daily life — if she’s missing classes, crying in bed, or dreading her cycle — take it seriously. Period pain that stops a young person from living normally is not just “part of growing up.” Push for answers, seek second opinions, and trust her experience.