Abdominal pain outside the lower abdomen as a symptom of endometriosis

How common is the symptom Abdominal pain outside the lower abdomen among people with endometriosis?

87,98% of people with endometriosis reported Abdominal pain outside the lower abdomen as a symptom of endometriosis in our survey.

How common is the symptom Abdominal pain outside the lower abdomen among people with endometriosis compared to the non-affected group?

21,73% of people with endometriosis suffer from the symptom Abdominal pain outside the lower abdomen very strong compared to a prevalence of 1,26% among non-affected individuals.
The following table shows the symptom Abdominal pain outside the lower abdomen in people with endometriosis compared to non-affected individuals. The scale ranges from 1 (not at all) to 5 (very strong).

Symptom Abdominal pain outside the lower abdomen in endometriosis - comparison with control group

Abdominal pain outside the lower abdomen in endometriosis
(n = 1730)
12,02%
13,99%
23,87%
28,38%
21,73%
Abdominal pain outside the lower abdomen in non-affected individuals
(n = 159)
54,72%
26,42%
11,32%
6,29%
1,26%

Tabular comparison of the prevalence of Abdominal pain outside the lower abdomen

Symptom severity Endometriosis Non-affected Comparison
not at all 12,02% 54,72% -42,69%
slightly 13,99% 26,42% -12,43%
moderate 23,87% 11,32% 12,55%
strong 28,38% 6,29% 22,09%
very strong 21,73% 1,26% 20,48%

Symptoms that could be related to Abdominal pain outside the lower abdomen

Based on the datasets, we calculated the Kendall correlation. The following symptoms could be related to Abdominal pain outside the lower abdomen.

Symptom name Correlation
Nausea moderate correlation (31,00%)
Joint pain weak correlation (29,00%)
Dizziness weak correlation (29,00%)
Bloated belly / Endo-Belly weak correlation (29,00%)
Limb pain weak correlation (28,00%)
Exhaustion / Fatigue weak correlation (28,00%)
Flatulence weak correlation (28,00%)
Back pain weak correlation (27,00%)
Kidney pain weak correlation (27,00%)
Pain during bowel movements weak correlation (26,00%)
Pain during urination weak correlation (25,00%)
Lower abdominal pain weak correlation (25,00%)
Headaches / Migraine weak correlation (24,00%)
Depression weak correlation (24,00%)
Numbness in legs weak correlation (23,00%)
Shoulder pain weak correlation (23,00%)
Pain after intercourse weak correlation (22,00%)
Frequent urination weak correlation (22,00%)
Leg pain weak correlation (22,00%)
Shortness of breath weak correlation (22,00%)
Loss of appetite weak correlation (21,00%)
Chills weak correlation (20,00%)
Belching weak correlation (20,00%)

Abdominal pain outside the lower abdomen in endometriosis

If you are a woman of reproductive age, your uterus is lined with the endometrium. This lining is influenced by hormones throughout the cycle and is therefore first built up and then broken down within each cycle, only to be rebuilt again in the next cycle.

If you have endometriosis, implants of endometriosis cells can also be found outside the uterus. These endometriotic lesions are often located in the pelvis, but other organs within the abdominal cavity can also be affected. These include, in particular, the bowel, diaphragm, navel (umbilicus), appendix, and, in rare cases, even the spleen and lungs.

Like the endometrial cells inside the uterus, these endometriotic lesions are governed by the hormonal menstrual cycle. This means the cell clusters grow and then bleed at the end of the cycle. If the inner walls of the bowel are affected by endometriosis, this bleeding may present as cycle-dependent blood mixed with the stool. This process leads to inflammatory reactions and scarring.

Nerve irritation can also result. In addition to abnormal sensations and a bloated abdomen, you may experience abdominal pain. Depending on the location and extent of the endometriotic lesions, this pain may be tied to the menstrual phase or may be chronic, occurring independently of the cycle.

The intensity of pain varies from woman to woman and cannot be measured objectively. It can be categorized only using a pain diary and a pain scale. Pain that occurs outside the lower abdomen as a result of endometriosis is described as cramping, aggressive, or stabbing and burning. Abdominal pain outside the lower abdomen caused by endometriosis therefore clearly has organic causes. These are not psychosomatic complaints that are often dismissed as “imagined pain.”

Did you know that you can also have a big influence on endometriosis symptoms yourself? In the Endo App you learn self-management techniques for endometriosis and find many interactive exercises to relieve symptoms.