Many women who have endometriosis also have another medical condition called inflammatory bowel syndrome (IBS). And on the flip side, many women have an inflamed gut only to find out that it has been caused by endometriosis.

This is where the endometrial tissue grows outside the uterus and reaches the intestine causing many intestinal symptoms. Up to 60% of women diagnosed with endometriosis have been found to also have IBS.

Endometriosis and irritable bowel syndrome are so common that, in one study, 25% of patients surveyed suffered from painful bowel movements and intestinal cramps. 35% suffered from constipation and a further 60% suffered from frequent diarrhea.

Both diseases cause symptoms including constipation, intestinal cramps, abdominal pain, painful bowel movements, diarrhea, alternating between diarrhea and constipation, vomiting and nausea, rectal bleeding, and also rectal pain.

Some people with these conditions may have only one symptom, but others tend to have more than one. The condition tends to get worse during your period or before you have your period. It can be quite frustrating because sometimes even after running multiple tests nothing is found.

For most patients, endometriosis is not found directly in the intestine. However, between 10 and 15% of women with this condition have it directly in the intestine. If endometriosis is in the intestine, surgery may be the solution. Often, a laparoscopy will be done to treat endometriosis and inflammatory bowel syndrome, where the outer layer of the intestine is peeled off.

In some more severe cases, the layer below the top layer may need to be cut to ensure the condition is treated effectively. It is then sewn to maintain the integrity of the intestinal wall and reduce the symptoms of endometriosis and irritable bowel syndrome.

In severe cases, more major surgery may be necessary. This could mean that a large part of your intestine is affected with multifocal implants. If so, a bowel resection may be the solution to fully treat the problem.

In such severe cases, a large part of the intestine may need to be completely removed and the unaffected ends attached. This may seem complicated, but it is done by a colorectal surgeon or even a general surgeon laparoscopically.

It is important to note that endometrial tissue does not have to be growing directly in the intestine for you to suffer from the effects of endometriosis and inflammatory bowel syndrome. Inflammatory mediators will affect the gut and cause the symptoms listed above.

The prostaglandins released by endometriotic implants are inflammatory mediators that will cause the intestine to contract. This is the cause of intestinal cramps and diarrhea that is often seen in endometriosis and IBS sufferers. Deep implants in structures adjacent to the intestine, such as the rectovaginal septum and uterosacral ligaments, can also cause these symptoms.

How is it diagnosed?
If you suspect you have endometriosis and inflammatory bowel syndrome, seek your doctor’s advice immediately. He or she can perform a variety of tests to diagnose both endometriosis and IBS separately.

There is a lot you can do to control both of these conditions, and an early diagnosis can help you tremendously with the time it takes to begin to heal. A good place to start would be to examine your diet. The endometriosis diet is a great place to look, as the diet is designed to minimize the most common symptoms of inflammatory bowel syndrome as well.