The part no one really explains
For a long time, I thought I just had a low pain tolerance.
That I needed to push through.
That everyone else was coping better than me.
Because when people talk about conditions like endometriosis, they often reduce it to “painful periods”.
And that never quite matched what I was feeling.
This wasn’t just pain once a month.
This was something that affected my energy, my body, my plans, my life.
So when I was finally diagnosed with endometriosis and adenomyosis, it didn’t just give me answers.
It made me realise how much had been misunderstood.
What is endometriosis?
Endometriosis is not just a reproductive condition and it’s definitely not just “bad periods”.
It’s a chronic, inflammatory disease where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside of the uterus and can spread throughout the body.
While it can affect reproductive organs, it has also been found on:
- The bowel
- The bladder
- The diaphragm
- The lungs
- Nerves and other areas within the body
This is what makes it so complex.
Because it doesn’t just impact your cycle.
It can affect digestion, movement, breathing, and overall quality of life.
Over time, it can lead to:
- Chronic inflammation
- Organs sticking together (adhesions)
- Damage to surrounding structures
- Changes in how organs function
In some cases, people undergo major surgeries involving:
- The bowel
- The ovaries
- Or other affected areas depending on where the disease is present
And something that is not talked about enough:
There is currently no cure for endometriosis.
There are ways to manage symptoms.
There are surgeries that can remove lesions.
There are treatments that can help some people.
But there is no guaranteed, permanent cure.
Every month, this tissue still responds to hormones.
It builds up.
It breaks down.
It bleeds.
But unlike a normal period, this bleeding is trapped inside the body.
Which is why the pain can feel intense, unpredictable, and not always located in one place.
For me, it wasn’t just cramps.
It was full-body exhaustion.
Brain fog.
Pain that didn’t make sense until I understood what was actually happening inside my body.
What is adenomyosis?
Adenomyosis is often less talked about, but it can be just as debilitating.
It happens when similar tissue grows within the muscular wall of the uterus.
So instead of growing outside like endometriosis, it grows into the uterus itself, causing the uterus to become:
- Enlarged
- Inflamed
- More sensitive to pain
This can lead to:
- Very heavy, sometimes flooding periods
- Large blood clots
- Severe cramping that can feel constant, not just during your period
- Chronic pelvic pain
- A deep, dragging or heavy sensation in the lower abdomen
For some people, it can also cause:
- Pain during intimacy
- Lower back pain
- Fatigue from ongoing blood loss
Adenomyosis can be:
- Diffuse (spread throughout the uterus)
- Or Focal (localised, sometimes called an adenomyoma)
And something that’s important to understand:
The only definitive cure for adenomyosis is a hysterectomy.
There are treatments that can help manage symptoms:
- Hormonal options
- Pain management
- Lifestyle changes
But if the goal is to completely remove the condition, it involves removing the uterus.
Which is not a small decision.
And not an option everyone wants or is ready for.
For me, adenomyosis is where that constant heaviness comes from.
The kind that doesn’t fully go away.
The kind you learn to carry, even on your “good” days.
The impact no one prepares you for
These conditions don’t just affect your body.
They affect your life in ways that are often not talked about enough.
Fertility
Endometriosis and adenomyosis can both impact fertility, but not always in predictable ways.
Some people conceive naturally.
Others need support.
And some face a much more complex journey.
Endometriosis can affect fertility by:
- Causing inflammation that impacts egg quality
- Creating scar tissue that affects the fallopian tubes or ovaries
- Altering the pelvic environment
Adenomyosis can affect:
- Implantation
- The ability of the uterus to support a pregnancy
It doesn’t mean pregnancy isn’t possible.
But it can make the journey more emotional, more uncertain, and more medically supported.
And that emotional weight is something people don’t talk about enough.
Energy and daily life
This isn’t just a “period problem”.
It’s:
- Chronic fatigue
- Brain fog
- Low energy that doesn’t match your lifestyle
Some days, your body just won’t cooperate.
And that can affect work, relationships, and how you show up for yourself.
Mental and emotional impact
Living with chronic pain changes you.
It can bring:
- Anxiety around your cycle
- Frustration with your body
- Guilt for cancelling plans
- A feeling of being misunderstood
And at times, grief.
For the life you thought you’d have.
For the ease you see other people experience.
Why these conditions are so misunderstood
Both endometriosis and adenomyosis are:
- Chronic
- Inflammatory
- Hormone-driven
But they’re also:
- Often invisible
- Difficult to diagnose
- Frequently dismissed
It can take years to get answers.
Years of being told:
- “It’s normal”
- “It’s just your period”
- “Take a painkiller”
And in that time, you’re left trying to navigate something that’s impacting your entire life… without the language to explain it.
What it actually looks like day to day
It’s not just about your period.
It’s:
- Cancelling plans last minute
- Planning your life around your cycle
- Managing energy, not just time
- Always having pain relief nearby
- Feeling guilty for needing rest
- Trying to explain something people can’t see
And still trying to build a life you love around all of that.
What has helped me
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach.
But for me, it’s looked like:
- Slowing down instead of pushing through
- Eating in a way that supports my body (like doing AIP resets when I need it)
- Prioritising rest without guilt
- Using tools like heat, TENS machines, and pain relief when needed
- Creating routines that work with my body, not against it
Most importantly, it’s been about listening to my body instead of ignoring it.
This is your reminder
If your pain is affecting your life, it is not something you should have to minimise.
If your body feels like it’s constantly struggling, you’re not imagining it.
Endometriosis and adenomyosis are real, complex conditions that deserve to be understood properly.
And so do you.
Let’s open the conversation
If you’re navigating endometriosis, adenomyosis, or chronic pain…
What has your experience been like?
Share in the comments. You never know who needs to feel less alone 