While they both can cause irregular bleeding and problems getting pregnant, there are some key symptom differences to be aware of. Here, Dr Elisabeth Rosen, a medical doctor at Livi who specialises in gynaecology and obstetrics, gives her advice on how to tell if severe period pain and other symptoms are caused by PCOS or endometriosis, and when to talk to a doctor.
This affects the menstrual cycle, leading to irregular bleeding and problems ovulating. Endometriosis is an inflammatory condition in which cells similar to the ones in the lining of the womb are found elsewhere in the body, explains Dr Rosen. When these start to grow, they cause local inflammation and scarring.
Endometriosis is most commonly found in the pelvis, but can be found in other parts of the body. Not everyone who has endometriosis gets symptoms, and they can vary over time and between different people. The most common endometriosis symptoms include:. Both endometriosis and PCOS are linked to an increased risk of infertility. More research is needed to determine why endometriosis affects fertility, but this may be caused by inflammation, scarring or deformation in the pelvic area.
People who have minimal or mild endometriosis usually have a better chance of becoming pregnant than those with more severe cases. A doctor will ask questions about your symptoms and experiences, explains Dr Rosen. They will refer you for a blood test to test your hormone levels and do an ultrasound to check for signs that your ovaries are polycystic.
This process is called ovulation and usually occurs once a month. But women with PCOS often fail to ovulate or ovulate infrequently, which means they have irregular or absent periods and find it difficult to get pregnant. Women who have had absent or very irregular periods fewer than 3 or 4 periods a year for many years have a higher than average risk of developing cancer of the womb lining endometrial cancer.
But the chance of getting endometrial cancer is still small and can be minimised using treatments to regulate periods, such as the contraceptive pill or an intrauterine system IUS. Page last reviewed: 01 February Next review due: 01 February This test uses sound waves and a computer to create images of blood vessels, tissues, and organs. This test is used to look at the size of the ovaries and see if they have cysts. The test can also look at the thickness of the lining of the uterus endometrium.
Blood tests. These look for high levels of androgens and other hormones. Your health care provider may also check your blood glucose levels. And you may have your cholesterol and triglyceride levels checked. Treatment for PCOS depends on a number of factors. These may include your age, how severe your symptoms are, and your overall health.
The type of treatment may also depend on whether you want to become pregnant in the future. A change in diet and activity. A healthy diet and more physical activity can help you lose weight and reduce your symptoms. They can also help your body use insulin more efficiently, lower blood glucose levels, and may help you ovulate.
Medications to cause ovulation. Medications can help the ovaries to release eggs normally. These medications also have certain risks. They can increase the chance for a multiple birth twins or more. And they can cause ovarian hyperstimulation. This is when the ovaries release too many hormones. It can cause symptoms such as abdominal bloating and pelvic pain.
Birth control pills. These help to control menstrual cycles, lower androgen levels, and reduce acne. Diabetes medication.
This is often used to lower insulin resistance in PCOS. It may also help reduce androgen levels, slow hair growth, and help you ovulate more regularly. Medications to treat other symptoms. Some medications can help reduce hair growth or acne.
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