I am really shocked and confused about a diagnosis that I recently recieved. I'm a 32 year old mother of a vivacious-four-month-sht-of-three little girl. I recently had a tubal ligation preformed, as my hubby and I are certain we do not want any more children, we're content with just our girl. After the tubal, my doc, (my ob/gyn) who did the surgery informed me that I had endometriosis and he had to "laser it off while I was in there". All well and good - only thing is I had absolutely no idea, and he and I apparently never talked about my endometriosis risk -- something maybe we should have, though, because we were aware that I have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. . a dysfunction of certain hormones that cause a woman to have her menstrual. I get mine (naturally, that is) maybe one time a year.

Anyway, my question stems from the previous paragraph. How could I have NO CLUE AT ALL that I had endometriosis? How in Gods' Green Earth did the lining end up on my bladder? Could I have simply had this all along and NOT actually have PCOS)...note that I did have blood results indicative of PCOS, I read the report - it was pretty clear. But would, possibly, endometriosis have similar blood test results. I read of the "Chocolate Cysts" which resemble the "string of pearls" - (images of dark, unreleased ovum) which is used alot to diagnose PCOS (I saw my ultrasound - I had bracelets full in both ovaries.)

I don't mean to sound self-important or whiney - I'm just really shocked about this diagnosis as it was never suspected, and makes me wonder if endometriosis, not PCOS, has been the route of all my gynecological/hormonal, etc problems. I'm pretty well versed in medicine, for a layperson, but this has really thrown me. Anyone!! With anything??

Information.

Endometriosis is a totally different disorder than Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and you can have one or the other or both at the same time. Having one does not predispose you to have the other.

The Endo cells that are shed can adhere to intestines, bladder, outside the uterus, etc. These cells will be stimulated each time the hormones fluctuate at the same time as the ovulating egg. Then these abnormal Endo cells will heal and each time they will also be stimulated during the menses cycle.

Unless you are looking for these cells, you won't necessarily realize easily that Endometriosis is occurring.

I am sorry you had such a shock. I, too, had 1-3 times a year menses ..skipping 6-9 months at a time (before I had my sons). I then got pre-cancerous indications (CIN level 3) and had to have a Conization.

Then about 5 years ago, after having such severe abdominal pain I went to the ER, I was diagnoses as having a foot-ball sized cyst that about to make my right ovary necrotic.

Life doesn't always give you what you expect to have, but I try to take one day at a time and manage somehow.

I don't know if that helps, but there it is.

I, too, have PCOS, or at least I did, until I had my complete hysterectomy in 1995.Now I just deal with the lasting effects of it.
My surgeon/OBGYN told me that PCOS can definitely go hand in hand with endometriosis, and that I was at a higher risk for endometrial cancer down the road, which is why ALL the parts had to go.
I always wondered why it took so many years for a doctor to recognize what was wrong and give it a name. PCOS sucks.

Thank you ladies, both, for writing. It's been little over one month from the time I discovered the endometriosis (following the tubal). Now at least I know why it hurts sometimes in that area! I think the taking it one day at a time idea is the best one, but I have to learn how to do that, as I am a 100% control freak! Well, I see my ob/gyn on the 20th and will get all the juicy details then. Thanks again and I appreciate your help.