Wow! I've had endometriosis since my teen years and your symptoms do sound quite a bit like mine. It got so bad for me that I would have to be stuck in bed for 2 weeks out of every month! I had surgery 9 months ago and it's better, but I still have some endo tissue. A common cause of endo is having a child because it can leave scarring and cause tissue to keep growing. Endometriosis is where the lining of your uterus keeps growing like scar tissue over and over. It can be a debilitating disease for some.



I would suggest going to your OB/GYN immediately and specifically asking to be checked for it. If you don't mention it there's a chance they will pass it up for years! A simple laproscopic surgery will take care of it.



I've been on depo provera (the injection) for nearly 8 years to keep mine from growing. It works wonders!



If your periods get heavier and heavier each month, if you have "contractions" which are like extreme cramps that will stop you in your tracks and cause you to double over in pain that is a huge symptom. I still experience those.



I know it doesn't sound important, but it is. If you do have it and let it go it can destroy your reproductive system as it did mine. I miscarried twice because of it and am now unable to have children. All because of the endo!



Did you have a c-section? Those are usually more common in endo patients than natural births.



I hate to add this, but it could be important. I apologize in advance for the not-so-pretty-talk...



I.B.S. is almost ALWAYS a problem in women with endo. I.B.S. is Irritable Bowel Syndrome. It will cause pain before, during or after you go to the bathroom and is usually relieved after you go. It can cause those contractions before you go and a lot of people have diarrhea A LOT with IBS. Then there are some who have the constipation IBS. Anyways, IBS is almost always accompanied by endo.



If those symptoms sounds a lot like yours, then I would get it checked asap. I don't mean to scare you. Endometriosis is actually not so bad if you catch it early. The reason for the destruction it caused me was because I'd had it for years.



If Depo Provera provides a lot of relief, then that can be a sign. Also, if you do have IBS, Donnatal or Belladonna is the best prescription for it and anxiety.



If you're periods last longer than a week without lightening up, that's a symptom. If you experience lower abdominal pain during intercourse, that is also a sign. It was a horrible part of my experience with it. Most of the time, my partner and I were unable to enjoy any sex until this year!



If the pain gets so bad that you're down and in the bed then that too, is a sign. It sounds like if you do have it, you're probably in the very early stages and can have it taken care of quickly and painlessly. less

Ive always had a heavy period. When I was younger I had the cramps along with it. As I got older not so much with cramps but much heavier and lasting longer (10 days). It was so bad that I had 2 d&c 's, thermal ablazion (not sure of the spelling on that) but it is where they burn out some of the lining. that helped for about 6 months, but then went right back. I ended up having a hysterectomy done. Best operation I have had. Sex is great and I have no period. I love it less

I have done a little looking into getting "fixed" and read a little about the different methods, but we are planning on having a second child in the future. Kendra sort of lit a fire under my butt to get checked out. so, when I am able, I will be doing that. less

whoah a period that LASTS 7 - 10 days? thats def. not normal =[ mine lasts 2 - 3 days each month and i have 2 toddlers that are 10 months apart in age; never had a issue.



depo shot SUCKS badly; it can cause 2 periods in a month, weight gain - i gained 20 lbs in 8 months it was terrible & also cramps and cause u to be hungry for everything. i was on that 1st after my daughter was born in 2008 for less than 1 yr. i then got on IUD but was on that for 1 yr and few months; wouldnt go on that either; can cause infertility issues and get imbedded in uterus. im on the pill =] it works great to regulate normal periods, or if u don't want period do not take the white pills just take the blue ones; i take white ones though. less

I figured it was normal for some women to have a period that lasted that long, mine have ever since I got my very first one. My best friend has 2-4 day periods....I am so jealous. everything I have read said that the normal period is 5-7 days, so I figured 10 wasn't that far off. and yes, Depo does blow monkey butt. I got a shot when I was in boot camp to help control my period. it totally screwed me up. I went 3 months without a period, then suddenly had a 4 week period, then went another 3 months without it. it took almost a year for me to get back to my monthly cycle. (I hated it) I read about the IUD, and thought, if you aren't supposed to use tampons and stuff with it, wouldn't intercourse dislodge it? so for now to avoid pregnancy we just use spermicide cream stuff combined with the pull out method. isn't there like a 7 day patch that you stick on your rump? is that any good? less