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Endometriosis is a painful condition in which tissue similar to the endometrium (the lining of the uterus) grows outside the uterus. Alongside the common symptoms of endometriosis, including cramping and painful menstruation, many people living with the disorder also experience joint pain.
In a 2025 survey, 39 percent of respondents with endometriosis reported muscle and/or joint pain unrelated to injury or infection. Nearly 70 percent reported low back pain.
Many members of MyEndometriosisTeam discuss how joint pain has affected their daily lives. “Beginning about 10 years ago, every time I had my period, my muscles and joints started hurting so bad that I could barely get out of bed,” one member wrote.
Another member shared, “I’m having pain in every joint in my body, and it’s hard to use my hands.”
Joint pain is usually felt in the knees, hips, hands, feet, lower back, and spine. This pain can be intermittent or constant. People with joint pain often describe their joints as achy, sore, or stiff. Others mention burning or grating sensations.
One member described the unusual sensation they felt: “Yesterday, I had pain, and then all my joints started hurting — and I mean extremely hurting. … It feels as if you stuck a needle through the joint, it would relieve the throbbing.”
When you’re already living with endometriosis pain, the addition of joint pain can be overwhelming. One member described their knee pain as so bad that at 38, they are “beginning to walk like an elderly woman.” Another member wrote that their joints are “screaming in pain.”
Joint pain can make it hard to move around and get a good night’s sleep. Severe pain can also make it harder to work, go to school, or take part in social activities.
The effects of joint pain aren’t only physical. Endometriosis and its symptoms, including joint pain, can affect a person’s mental and emotional health, well-being, and quality of life. One member shared that they had been “incredibly depressed,” adding, “Today, my hips, sacroiliac joints, and back are in an incredible amount of pain.”
Some members have expressed frustration trying to find treatment for their symptoms. As one member shared, “I was told I have arthritis. And no explanation for anything else.”
Another member added, “What concerns me the most is that my ‘arthritis’ only hurts during my period. I’m concerned the endometriosis is attacking my joints. My new doctor only said, ‘Endometriosis won’t attack your joints.’”
Most of the time, endometriosis doesn’t damage joints the way arthritis can. But rarely, endometriosis can affect areas in muscles or near joints, so it’s worth getting checked if your joint pain is severe, keeps coming back, or lines up with your period.
Researchers are not yet certain about how endometriosis may contribute to joint pain. The cause of endometriosis is still not fully understood. In recent years, scientists have learned more about how endometriosis affects the body and which treatments may help.
It’s clear that many people living with endometriosis also have joint pain. So, does endometriosis directly cause joint pain? While there is no definitive answer yet, research has begun to provide some insight.
Studies have shown that some people with endometriosis have ongoing inflammation, which can cause joint pain.
Studies have also found associations between endometriosis and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) — an inflammatory disease that causes pain and swelling in the joints. This association does not prove that endometriosis causes RA, but some research suggests that people with endometriosis may have a higher risk of developing RA. Studies suggest that endometriosis and autoimmune diseases like RA may sometimes happen together because of changes in the immune system.
Risk factors for RA, in particular, include:
Risk also increases with age.
More research is needed to explore the connection between endometriosis, joint pain, and RA, as well as the particulars of this relationship (such as why some people with endometriosis have joint pain that coincides with their menstrual cycle).
Leuprolide (Lupron), a medication used to treat pain and reduce lesions caused by endometriosis, can cause joint and bone pain as a side effect. One MyEndometriosisTeam member shared, “I ended up asking the doctor to take me off of it because the side effects were so terrible. I had … joint pain so bad that some days, I couldn’t even put weight on my ankles.”
Another member added, “I’ve also noticed increasing joint pain and insomnia. I’ve decided to stop Lupron and seek out an excision specialist.”
Other hormone medicines can also cause joint aches and pains. Some newer endometriosis pain medicines work by blocking the same hormone signal differently (they’re called GnRH antagonists). Examples include elagolix (Orilissa) and a combination of relugolix, estradiol, and norethindrone acetate (Myfembree). These medicines, along with leuprolide, can also cause rare side effects like joint or muscle aches, and some have warnings about bone loss if used for too long. Your doctor can help you decide what’s safest for you.
Joint pain itself is treated in a variety of ways, though there is little research on which treatments are the most effective for endometriosis-related joint pain. You may need to work with your doctor to try different strategies before you find what works for you.
You may want to try hot and cold packs for immediate at-home pain relief. A hot pack can ease muscle spasms and improve blood flow, while cold packs can help reduce inflammation and swelling that may be contributing to joint pain.
Living with chronic (long-term) pelvic pain from endometriosis can contribute to chronic stress. Stress may contribute to inflammation and increased pain sensitivity in some people. Reducing stress through activities like cognitive therapy, gentle yoga, or tai chi may be helpful in alleviating chronic pain.
One MyEndometriosisTeam member found some pain relief through a combination of approaches. They advised trying “a warm shower (and just let the water hit you) or a bath to relax the muscles. And ibuprofen or Midol to help with the inflammation.”
Another member suggested massage therapy: “If you get someone knowledgeable about essential oils, that can really help with localized pain management. I recently have been trying this and am pleased with a good amount of success. I plan to continue with that and chiropractic care together.”
Your doctor may recommend specific therapeutic exercises to help address joint pain and swelling. A physical therapist can design exercises to help you achieve a certain goal — in this case, decreasing pain and stiffness.
If RA is causing your joint pain, your doctor may recommend or prescribe the following treatment and pain management options.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can alleviate some joint inflammation and reduce pain. These medications are available both over the counter and as prescriptions in stronger doses.
In the early stages, the goal of RA treatment is to slow down the disease. Slowing RA’s progression can help relieve joint symptoms. Several types of medications are used to treat RA and relieve related joint pain, including corticosteroid injections, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, and biologic medications.
It’s important to remember that not all joint pain is caused by endometriosis. New, severe, or ongoing joint pain should be evaluated by a healthcare provider to rule out other possible causes, such as inflammatory arthritis, thyroid disease, vitamin D deficiency, fibromyalgia, or medication side effects. Even if your joint pain seems to flare around your period, it’s still worth checking for other conditions that may have different treatment options.
On MyEndometriosisTeam, people share their experiences with endometriosis, get advice, and find support from others who understand.
Have you had joint pain while living with endometriosis? Let others know in a comment below.
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