As the implants grow and respond to hormonal stimulation, they can cause symptoms. Interestingly, endometriosis has been diagnosed in unusual locations like the knees, thumbs, thigh, vulva, lungs and liver, and has even been diagnosed in men receiving estrogen therapy. Endometriosis is a sometimes bizarre disorder. Some women have dozens of implants but never have symptoms, while others may have a few visible implants but have severe pain. We're not sure why this condition is so variable, or why only a few lesions can cause such severe pain.
Endometriosis can cause pelvic pain.
Many women with endometriosis report severe pain with intercourse or exercising, or pain with bowel movements. The pain may be dull and throbbing, or sharp and stabbing, or even a combination of both. Since pain is so individual, each woman with this condition may report different types of pain, depending on the location of endometriosis and the type of activity she undertakes. Some women report severe pain and cramps with periods, which may be a result of endometriosis. While this type of pain does exist, it is much less common than pain from an actual disease, such as endometriosis, and medical students are currently learning that they should leave no stone unturned before even thinking about suggesting a psychological source of the pain.