Living with endometriosis often means living with recurring pain, fatigue and complaints that change from month to month. You may recognise that some days you can handle everything and other days you can barely get out of bed. That is not making a fuss, and certainly not a sign that you are not strong enough.
I notice that many women think for a long time that their complaints are just part of life. Yet you deserve recognition and practical tools to make your days a little more bearable.
Below you read which endometriosis symptoms affect your daily life, what you can do yourself to cope, why support matters so much and when to contact your doctor again.
Which symptoms come with endometriosis in daily life?
Endometriosis symptoms often revolve around recurring abdominal pain, chronic pelvic pain and heavy fatigue that can affect your work or studies. The complaints vary a lot from woman to woman and from cycle to cycle, which means one month can be harder than another. It is precisely this unpredictability that makes living with it so complicated.
Many women describe pain that does not stop once the period is over. The pain can also flare up between periods.
Often there is a mental layer on top of this. Constantly having to plan around good and bad days can weigh heavily, especially if those around you do not see how much it costs you.
Complaints that often occur:
- Recurring abdominal pain or cramps, also outside your period
- Chronic pain low in your abdomen or pelvis
- Fatigue that does not lift after a night of sleep
- Pain that affects your concentration at work or study
- Pain during sex, urinating or bowel movements
Want to read first how to tell endometriosis apart from ordinary period pain? Then read our article on endometriosis versus period pain.
What can you do yourself to cope with the symptoms?
You cannot cure endometriosis yourself, but there are ways that can help make your symptoms more bearable. Think of warmth, gentle movement, attention to your diet and consciously resting around your period. See it as support alongside your doctor's treatment, not as a replacement for it.
What works for one woman does not have to do the same for you. It can help to calmly try out what suits you.
| Approach | How it can help you |
|---|---|
| Warmth, such as a hot water bottle or warm bath | Can temporarily soften cramps and tension in your abdomen |
| Gentle movement, such as walking or yoga | Can loosen stiffness and lift your mood a little on days that it works |
| Food with plenty of vegetables and fibre, less sugar, alcohol and caffeine | Can calm your gut and keep your energy a little more stable |
| Consciously resting around your period | Can help you get through the heaviest days better |
| Breathing and relaxation exercises | Can slightly lower the tension around pain and give you a sense of control |
These measures can help ease your symptoms, but they do not take away the endometriosis itself.
It can help to track for a few weeks what does you good and what disappoints. That way you calmly discover your own pattern, without the pressure that everything has to work straight away.
Be gentle with yourself too on the days that nothing seems to help. Such a day does not mean you are doing something wrong, it is part of the changing nature of endometriosis.
Do you notice that the pain keeps dominating your life despite this approach? Then discuss that with your GP, so you can look at further treatment together.
Why are support and recognition important?
Endometriosis is a chronic illness, and living with ongoing pain asks a lot of you. Support and recognition, both from those around you and from healthcare providers, can make the difference in how you get through your day. You do not have to carry your complaints on your own.
Many women feel misunderstood, precisely because the complaints are not visible from the outside. That can be lonely and exhausting.
What can help:
- Talking with people who understand what you are going through, for example through a patient association
- Seeking support from a practice nurse or psychologist if the complaints weigh on your mood
- Explaining to those around you what endometriosis does to you, so they can take it into account
Recognition is not a luxury but an important part of coping with a chronic condition. Good psychological support can help you keep your resilience.
When do you contact your doctor again?
Contact your GP again if your pain increases, if new complaints appear or if you have a wish to have children. Endometriosis can change over time, and your treatment can then be adjusted too. With persistent complaints there is no need to wait until it passes on its own.
You know your body best. Trust your feeling if something feels different from what you are used to.
Get in touch in any case if you recognise this:
- The pain increases or no longer responds to what helped before
- New complaints appear, such as bleeding or bowel symptoms you do not know
- You have a wish to have children and want to know what your options are
With a wish to have children it can be worthwhile to map your fertility. For that, read our article on endometriosis and fertility testing.
A blood test does not establish endometriosis, but it can help to rule out complaints with a different cause. The Hormones Women blood test maps the hormones that steer your cycle, so that together with your doctor you get a more complete picture. Want to read the whole picture around diagnosis? Then look at our pillar on endometriosis symptoms, diagnosis and what blood tests add.
Frequently asked questions
Can you have endometriosis established with a blood test?
No, a blood test does not establish endometriosis. The diagnosis goes through your GP or gynaecologist, often with an ultrasound or sometimes a keyhole operation. A blood test can help to rule out other causes of your complaints.
Does an adjusted lifestyle help against endometriosis symptoms?
A calm lifestyle with warmth, movement and attention to food can help ease your symptoms, but it does not cure the endometriosis. See it as support alongside the treatment you agree on with your doctor.
Is fatigue a normal part of endometriosis?
Many women with endometriosis experience heavy fatigue, partly due to the ongoing pain and its impact on your sleep. Keep an eye on your complaints and discuss persistent fatigue with your GP, so that other causes can be ruled out.
References
- Endometriose Stichting. Living with endometriosis and coping with complaints. Endometriose Stichting, 2024. Available via endometriose.nl.
- Thuisarts.nl. I have endometriosis. Dutch College of General Practitioners, 2023. Available via thuisarts.nl.
- World Health Organization. Endometriosis. WHO, 2023. Available via who.int.
Every blood test result through Lunara includes a professional assessment by a BIG-registered doctor. For diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis, discuss your symptoms with your GP or gynaecologist.
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