Kidney pain as a symptom of endometriosis

Kidney pain in endometriosis

Abdominal pain, which can extend beyond purely lower abdominal pain, is among the hallmark symptoms of endometriosis. The pain may radiate from the lower abdomen throughout the entire abdomen or into the back. However, if you experience pain in the kidney area that worsens when pressure is applied over the kidneys, this may indicate a urinary obstruction (hydronephrosis). In rare cases, endometriosis can cause such a blockage. Important: A urinary obstruction always requires treatment; you should urgently consult a physician.

In people with endometriosis, tissue similar to the uterine lining is found outside the uterus. These so-called endometriotic lesions are located predominantly in the pelvis but can also involve the bowel, brain, and lungs. About five percent of women have involvement of the urinary tract. The growths may be superficial or “deeply infiltrating” into the tissue of the affected organs. In urinary tract endometriosis, usually only one ureter—most often the right—is affected. Because of the growths, the ureter can become obstructed. The ureter’s function is to carry urine from the kidney to the bladder. If a ureter is blocked, urine can no longer drain and backs up. If this back-up in the kidney is not relieved, it can lead to loss of kidney function.

As a rule, a urinary back-up causes severe pain in the lower back and along the sides of the abdomen (flanks). Additional symptoms can include fever, nausea, and vomiting. Whether an obstruction is present can be clearly determined by an ultrasound examination.

In rare cases, endometriotic lesions can also arise within the kidney itself. Driven by hormonal changes, they enlarge during the cycle and bleed at the end of the cycle. If the blood remains trapped in the tissue, it leads to inflammation, adhesions, scarring, and cyst formation. This, too, can cause kidney pain.