Stages of Endometriosis
This is something I have come across since talking to others online about Endometriosis I find it easier to understand than I did before I just thought if you had Endometriosis then you had Endometriosis it never really occurred to me that there are different stages/strains of it. When I was first diagnosed I was just told I had mild endometriosis so thought that you either had mild or bad and that was that. Some doctors do not use the stage system it all depends on where you are from and who your doctor is. I have written in brackets another name for the stages. I may be wrong in saying this so please correct me if I am but I personally have found that it is mostly in America that they use the stages system. There are 4 stages of Endometriosis listed below, I have included a brief description of each stage however bare in mind that this disease can vary hugely. I will also mention again if you suspect that you (or a loved one) has Endometriosis contact your (get them to contact their) GP or health care professional as I am not medically trained.
Stage One (Minimal Endometriosis)
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Endometriosis is very little and is usually present in narrow areas between the organs as isolated incidents. Many women with Stage One (or Minimal Endometriosis) do not have many symptoms but as I have stated before this is not to say you cannot have symptoms. The pain level is usually low but depending on where the endometriosis is this is not always the case.
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Stage Two (Mild Endometriosis)
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There are a few small areas with Endometriosis. For example one or both ovaries is now affected. There also could be formation of small areas of adhesions and scar tissue. Symptoms with Stage Two (Mild Endometriosis) are mild, however as stated about that is not always the case. The pain level is normally mild as well but again is not always the case as with Stage One is not always the case.
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Stage Three (Moderate Endometriosis)
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Several reproductive organs are affected. Women with Stage Three (Moderate Endometriosis) often show ‘typical’ Endometriosis symptoms and they tend to suffer from pain due to the areas of adhesions and scar tissue formation being quite prominent. However some women with Stage Three (Moderate) Endometriosis can have no symptoms and no pain all depending on where the endometriosis lays.
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Stage Four (Severe Endometriosis)
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Several reproductive organs are usually affected and the entire pelvic area contains large amounts of endometriosis implanted deeply with large adhesions. The symptoms of this Stage Four (Severe Endometriosis) including pelvic pain are severe. Also at this stage women typically have difficulty trying to conceive. (however depending on where your endometriosis is you could struggle to conceive with any stage of Endometriosis). The pain level are usually very high.
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