Severe menstrual cramps can make your whole body feel like it has been pulled into the pain. The lower belly tightens. The back aches. The thighs feel heavy. Nausea, diarrhea, dizziness, fatigue, and bloating can show up at the same time. Some people are expected to work, study, parent, and function through pain that would send anyone else to bed.
Period bloating has a special talent for showing up at the worst time. Your jeans feel tighter. Your belly feels swollen. Your appetite changes. You may feel gassy, heavy, uncomfortable, and irritated because your body suddenly feels unfamiliar.
Endometriosis is a condition that affects about 1 in 10 women during their reproductive years. It happens when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside it, causing pain, infertility, and other health problems. For decades, diagnosing endometriosis has been complicated and invasive, requiring surgery to confirm it. But new advancements suggest a simple blood test could soon make diagnosis faster, easier, and safer.