In short: Thoracic endometriosis is a rare condition in which tissue similar to the womb lining is found in the lung, the pleura (the lining of the lung) or the diaphragm. It can cause shortness of breath, chest pain, coughing up blood or a collapsed lung (pneumothorax) that return around your period. Once the pattern is recognised, it can be diagnosed and treated, usually with long-term follow-up.
Symptoms that return with your cycle
- Shortness of breath during or around your period
- Chest pain during periods, usually sharp and worse when you breathe in
- Shoulder or neck pain during your period
- A cough, and sometimes coughing up blood, with your period
- A collapsed lung (pneumothorax) that keeps coming back, mostly on the right side
Symptoms usually appear between 24 hours before a period and 72 hours after it begins, but not always. Many women also have endometriosis in the pelvis. Shortness of breath and chest pain with periods are usually not caused by endometriosis; there are more common causes, such as asthma that gets worse around periods. But if the pattern repeats every month, it is worth getting checked.
Diagnosis and treatment
Diagnosis starts with a detailed account of how your symptoms relate to your cycle, followed by chest imaging (CT or MRI). Sometimes minimally invasive (keyhole) surgery, known as VATS, is needed to diagnose and treat. Treatment includes hormonal treatment that suppresses the cycle and, in recurrent or resistant cases, surgery as well, with shared follow-up with your gynaecologist.
Our experience and team
At our clinic we have clinical experience in diagnosing and caring for women with thoracic endometriosis. The team includes experienced thoracic surgeons. We also work with gynaecologists we are used to working with, and involve them as needed, so that each woman receives a plan tailored to her. You can also have an online consultation, even if you live far away or abroad: how online consultations work.
For the wider picture of hormones and the lungs: women’s lung health.
Frequently asked questions
Can shortness of breath during my period be related to the lungs?
Usually the cause is something else, mainly asthma that gets worse around periods, but yes, it is possible. When symptoms return on the same days every month, and especially with chest pain, coughing up blood or a pneumothorax, thoracic endometriosis is worth considering too.
When does chest pain during my period need to be checked?
Get it checked if the pain is sharp and gets worse when you breathe in, or if shoulder pain, shortness of breath or coughing up blood come back cycle after cycle. If you have sudden shortness of breath, severe chest pain or coughing up blood, go to the emergency department straight away.
Can a collapsed lung (pneumothorax) with my period come back?
Yes, a pneumothorax linked to thoracic endometriosis can come back. Recurrence is not uncommon (about 30% or more in reviews), which is why hormonal treatment and shared follow-up with your gynaecologist and a thoracic surgeon are important.
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General information only; it does not replace a medical consultation. עברית