How common is the symptom Prolonged menstrual bleeding among people with endometriosis?
69,96% of people with endometriosis reported Prolonged menstrual bleeding as a symptom of endometriosis in our survey.
How common is the symptom Prolonged menstrual bleeding among people with endometriosis compared to the non-affected group?
22,43% of people with endometriosis suffer from the symptom Prolonged menstrual bleeding very strong compared to a prevalence of 3,77% among non-affected individuals.
The following table shows the symptom Prolonged menstrual bleeding in people with endometriosis compared to non-affected individuals. The scale ranges from 1 (not at all) to 5 (very strong).
| Symptom severity | Endometriosis | Non-affected | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| not at all | 30,04% | 66,04% | -36,00% |
| slightly | 12,32% | 13,21% | -0,89% |
| moderate | 16,15% | 10,06% | 6,09% |
| strong | 19,06% | 6,92% | 12,14% |
| very strong | 22,43% | 3,77% | 18,66% |
Based on the datasets, we calculated the Kendall correlation. The following symptoms could be related to Prolonged menstrual bleeding.
| Symptom name | Correlation |
|---|---|
| Heavy menstrual bleeding | strong correlation (54,00%) |
| Clotted bleeding | moderate correlation (31,00%) |
| Severe menstrual cramps | weak correlation (27,00%) |
| Lower abdominal pain | weak correlation (22,00%) |
A normal menstrual period lasts between three and seven days. A menstrual period of at least eight days is therefore considered prolonged menstrual bleeding. Because of the extended bleeding phase, there is often increased blood loss. Approximately 80 ml of blood per period is considered normal. The consequences can include anemia and iron deficiency. Because of stress, illness, or travel, your period may be prolonged once. In this situation, it is not called prolonged menstrual bleeding; it is a normal variation. Pathologically prolonged menstrual bleeding is referred to as menorrhagia.
There are many possible causes for the development of menorrhagia. One cause is endometriosis, and in particular a specific form of endometriosis: adenomyosis. In endometriosis, cells that share characteristics with the endometrium grow outside the uterus in so-called endometriosis lesions. In adenomyosis, glandular tissue from the endometrium grows into the muscular tissue of the uterus. Adenomyosis occurs more frequently in women who also have endometriosis. It is also more common in women who have had several pregnancies. In addition, this special form of endometriosis primarily affects women from their mid-30s onward.
Diagnosing adenomyosis is particularly difficult. An enlarged uterus suggests adenomyosis. If it is suspected, an ultrasound examination as well as an MRI are performed. However, a definitive diagnosis can be made only by a tissue examination. For this, the uterus must be removed. If you wish to have children, this procedure (which is both diagnostic and therapeutic) is not an option.
In addition to prolonged bleeding, adenomyosis may present with the following symptoms: