---
title: "Endometriosis: symptoms, causes & treatment | Sanara Health"
description: "Endometriosis is tissue similar to womb lining growing outside the uterus — causing painful periods, pain during sex and fertility problems."
url: "https://www.sanarahealth.co.uk/conditions/endometriosis/"
source: "Sanara Health"
licence: "Quote with attribution and a link to the url above."
---
# Endometriosis: symptoms, causes & treatment

Endometriosis is tissue similar to womb lining growing outside the uterus — causing painful periods, pain during sex and fertility problems.

Editorial information by **Kaiser Khan**. Not clinically reviewed.

## Symptoms

- Severe period pain not relieved by standard painkillers
- Pain during or after sex
- Pain opening bowels during periods
- Difficulty conceiving
- Fatigue

## Why it happens

Not fully understood — likely multiple factors including retrograde menstruation and immune factors. Not caused by lifestyle choices.

## Treatment

Hormonal treatments, pain management, surgery in selected cases, fertility support. Requires proper gynaecology assessment for diagnosis.

## Self-care that helps

Track symptoms across cycles; heat pads; gentle exercise; seek specialist review rather than repeated A&E visits for unmanaged pain.

## When to get help

Pain preventing daily activities, inability to conceive after 12 months, or bowel/bladder symptoms cyclically — gynaecology referral.

[See our endometriosis support →](https://www.sanarahealth.co.uk/guides/contraception-pill-online-uk/)

Go deeper

## Related guides

[Endometriosis symptoms UK: when to seek diagnosis and treatment — Endometriosis signs, diagnosis pathways in the UK, pain management and fertility — when online care helps and when you need gynaecology referral.](https://www.sanarahealth.co.uk/guides/endometriosis-symptoms-uk/)

Available without prescription

## Products that can help

[Everyday health — Vitamin D3: 1000 IU explained](https://www.sanarahealth.co.uk/supplements/vitamin-d3-1000iu/)

[Everyday health — Omega-3 fish oil](https://www.sanarahealth.co.uk/supplements/omega-3-fish-oil/)

[Everyday health — Daily multivitamins](https://www.sanarahealth.co.uk/supplements/daily-multivitamin/)