Skip to content
🐣 10% discount with code: PÅSK2026 🐣
Registered healthcare provider – safe and secure
Wide range of MRI and blood tests

Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a medical condition in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus. This condition can cause different symptoms and affect different parts of the body.

Estrogen and progesterone

Estrogen and progesterone

Hormone test estrogen and progesterone

365 kr

10% discount on testmottagningen.se with the code: PÅSK2026 Health checks for increased well-being

Go to the campaign Browse healthchecks

Contents

Quick version

What is endometriosis?

Endometriosis is a condition where tissue that normally exists only inside the uterus begins to grow outside of it. This tissue, called endometrial tissue, reacts to hormonal changes in the same way as the tissue inside the uterus. This can lead to inflammation, pain, and the formation of scar tissue.

Symptoms of endometriosis

Symptoms of endometriosis can vary from person to person, but some common symptoms include:

  • Pain: Pain is a predominant symptom of endometriosis. It can be chronic and intense, occurring in the pelvic area, lower abdomen, and sometimes in the back.
  • Menstruation-Related Pain: Many women with endometriosis experience increased pain during menstruation .
  • Pain during sexual activity: Pain can occur during or after sexual activity.
  • Intestinal function issues: Endometriosis can affect the intestines, causing issues such as diarrhea, constipation, and abdominal pain.
  • Fertility problems: Endometriosis can also be associated with difficulties in becoming pregnant.

How Does endometriosis pain feel?

The pain of endometriosis can be diverse, described as sharp, stabbing, cramp-like, or dull. It can impact daily activities and quality of life.

Why do people get endometriosis?

Despite affecting approximately one in ten people with a uterus, the exact cause of endometriosis is still not fully understood. However, there are several prominent theories within medical science:

  • Retrograde menstruation: The most common theory is that menstrual blood flows backward through the fallopian tubes into the pelvic cavity instead of leaving the body. The blood contains stem cells that can attach to organs and begin to grow.
  • Genetics: The condition is often hereditary. If a close relative has endometriosis, the risk of developing it yourself is higher.
  • The Immune System: One theory suggests that the immune system in people with endometriosis fails to identify and break down tissue that has ended up in the wrong place.
  • Spread via blood and lymph: Similar to other cellular changes, it is believed that endometrial cells can be transported to other parts of the body via the vascular system.

Where does endometriosis grow?

The tissue can attach to more than just the pelvic cavity. It is most commonly found on:

  • The ovaries (where they can form so-called chocolate cysts).
  • The ligaments surrounding the uterus.
  • The space between the uterus and the rectum.
  • The bladder or the intestines.

Different types of treatments

In addition to basic treatments, there are specific approaches depending on the symptoms:

  • Hormonal regulation: Birth control pills, hormonal IUDs, or GnRH analogs (which place the body in a temporary menopause) are used to reduce estrogen levels, causing endometrial lesions to "dry out."
  • Surgery (Laparoscopy): In severe cases, lesions and adhesions are surgically removed to restore anatomy and reduce pain.
  • Multidisciplinary pain management: Since chronic pain affects the nervous system, physiotherapy, TENS machines, and counseling can be crucial for quality of life.

Living with endometriosis

Receiving a diagnosis is often a relief, but the path forward requires patience. Many find that a combination of medical treatment and lifestyle adjustments works best:

  • Diet and exercise: Regular, low-intensity exercise can reduce inflammation in the body.
  • Rest: Exhaustion (fatigue) is a common but often overlooked symptom that requires prioritizing recovery.
  • Hormone testing: Since endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent disease, it can be valuable to check hormone levels to understand the balance between estrogen and progesterone.

Questions and answers

Common symptoms include severe pelvic pain, intense menstrual cramps, pain during intercourse, bowel issues, and challenges with fertility.

While the exact cause is unknown, leading theories include retrograde menstruation (menstrual blood flowing backward), genetics, immune system issues, or transport of cells through the blood and lymphatic systems.

Treatment is personalized and may include hormonal regulation (e.g., birth control), surgery (laparoscopy) to remove lesions, and multidisciplinary pain management such as physiotherapy.

Related tests and health checks

Health checks

Health checks

Estrogen and progesterone

Estrogen and progesterone

Hormone test estrogen and progesterone
Marker Icon 2 Biomarkers
Information

Medical comment included

With us, you will always receive a doctor’s opinion from a licensed physician when you order a medical check-up that includes a medical opinion. The doctor’s opinion includes an overall assessment of your results from laboratory analysis. The opinion is individual and may vary depending on the specific tests your medical check-up includes.

What can I expect in the medical report?

The medical opinion will summarize the results of your test results to give you an assessment of your health including any abnormalities outside the reference ranges. In case of abnormalities or need, your doctor may also contact you for a free conversation to explain and talk about your results. Remember that a health check always includes specific test results based on your health and your personal circumstances. Values outside the reference range should therefore always be discussed with a doctor before any decisions regarding possible treatment are made.

What does the doctor look at during a health check?

When assessing a blood test or health check, your doctor will look at several different parameters to evaluate your health and identify any abnormalities. Below are some common aspects your doctor may examine:

Blood counts: Your doctor will check red, white and platelet counts to identify any signs of anaemia, infection or bleeding.

Nutrients and biochemical markers: Includes, for example, analysis and monitoring of blood sugar (glucose) levels, electrolyte levels (e.g. sodium, potassium), liver function tests (e.g. liver enzymes), kidney function tests (e.g. creatinine, urea) and lipid profile (e.g. cholesterol, triglycerides). The results of the tests give your doctor a better idea of your organ function, blood sugar level, cholesterol conditions and other important health aspects.

Inflammatory markers: Your doctor may measure health markers such as C-reactive protein (CRP) or red blood cell decrease rate (SR) to evaluate inflammatory conditions or confirm an active infection.

Hormone levels: Your doctor may monitor your hormone levels to assess hormonal imbalances or diseases, such as thyroid hormones (TSH, T3, T4), sex hormones or other specific hormones such as testosterone levels.

Specific tests: Depending on your goal of your health check or medical history, your doctor may look into specific tests to investigate conditions or diseases, such as diabetes, vitamin deficiency or autoimmune diseases.

In conclusion, the doctor weighs all test results based on the health check to assess your overall health, detect any abnormalities and identify possible underlying medical conditions.

What happens if I have abnormal test results?

If your blood count is abnormal, this will be addressed in your personal medical opinion. Depending on the nature and extent of the abnormality, your doctor may also contact you directly through the test result service for further guidance. Various measures and advice will be provided based on the specific abnormalities observed along with your medical history.

  • Measuring your estrogen levels.
  • Measuring your progesterone levels.
  • The value can be used when assessing hormonal imbalance.

365 kr

Other symptoms

PMS – Premenstrual syndrome

Premenstrual Syndrome – understanding your body's hormones and finding balance in everyday life

Amenorrhea

Primary, Secondary, and Hypothalamic Amenorrhea – Why Your Period Disappears and How to Restore Balance

Irregular periods – causes and symptoms

Everything you need to know about hormonal balance, the menstrual cycle, and factors affecting your period

Fibroids

A comprehensive guide to understanding benign uterine tumors and your treatment options
Cart

The basket is empty.

Hos oss får du tillgång till Sveriges bredaste utbud av blodprov, hälsokontroller och MR – med läkare som alltid granskar dina provsvar.

Select tests
Sampling fee
Total
Sampling fee?

The sample collection fee is a fixed cost that refers to the visit to the clinic where you submit your sample. The fee is not affected by how many tests you have ordered, but varies depending on the order value:

Free sampling fee

For purchases over 1 000 SEK, the sampling fee is included.