Numbness in hands as a symptom of endometriosis

How common is the symptom Numbness in hands among people with endometriosis?

42,34% of people with endometriosis reported Numbness in hands as a symptom of endometriosis in our survey.

How common is the symptom Numbness in hands among people with endometriosis compared to the non-affected group?

2,31% of people with endometriosis suffer from the symptom Numbness in hands very strong compared to a prevalence of 1,26% among non-affected individuals.
The following table shows the symptom Numbness in hands in people with endometriosis compared to non-affected individuals. The scale ranges from 1 (not at all) to 5 (very strong).

Symptom Numbness in hands in endometriosis - comparison with control group

Numbness in hands in endometriosis
(n = 1729)
57,66%
16,43%
15,15%
8,44%
2,31%
Numbness in hands in non-affected individuals
(n = 159)
72,33%
16,35%
5,03%
5,03%
1,26%

Tabular comparison of the prevalence of Numbness in hands

Symptom severity Endometriosis Non-affected Comparison
not at all 57,66% 72,33% -14,66%
slightly 16,43% 16,35% 0,07%
moderate 15,15% 5,03% 10,12%
strong 8,44% 5,03% 3,41%
very strong 2,31% 1,26% 1,06%

Symptoms that could be related to Numbness in hands

Based on the datasets, we calculated the Kendall correlation. The following symptoms could be related to Numbness in hands.

Symptom name Correlation
Numbness in legs moderate correlation (32,00%)
Joint pain moderate correlation (31,00%)
Shoulder pain moderate correlation (30,00%)
Limb pain weak correlation (28,00%)
Taste changes (e.g. iron taste) weak correlation (26,00%)
Shortness of breath weak correlation (23,00%)
Dizziness weak correlation (22,00%)
Hearing loss weak correlation (22,00%)
Chills weak correlation (21,00%)
Belching weak correlation (21,00%)
Leg pain weak correlation (21,00%)
Kidney pain weak correlation (20,00%)

Numbness in hands in endometriosis

Numbness in the hands and other abnormal sensations in your hands can have many causes. Even if the connection is not obvious at first glance, endometriosis can also lead to numbness in the hands. Conversely, there are other conditions that you may have in addition to endometriosis (especially PMS) that can trigger these abnormal sensations in the hands.

The following triggering factors may be considered as causes of numbness in the hands:

  • Fluctuations/disruptions in hormonal balance
  • Nerve damage
  • Circulatory disorders/circulation problems

This is how these triggering factors can be linked to the physical changes caused by endometriosis:

In endometriosis, so-called endometriotic lesions are found in the pelvis and throughout the abdominal cavity, and in some cases even on the diaphragm or in the lungs. These growths consist of clusters of cells made of endometrium-like tissue. They are subject to the hormonal cycle and therefore grow during the cycle and then shed and bleed again. Some people with endometriosis experience heavy bleeding, which in extreme cases can lead to anemia or iron deficiency. In addition, in patients with endometriosis an altered balance between the hormones progesterone and estrogen is observed, which in turn can affect other hormones.

Endometriotic lesions can grow superficially on or within organs, or be “deeply infiltrating.” In deeply infiltrating endometriosis, the growths extend deep into the tissue of the affected organs. In this process, nerves that supply the organs can also be compromised. As a result, endometriosis can also affect the so-called autonomic nervous system, which can lead to generalized disturbances.

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.