Can endometriosis block a ureter without pain?

Yes. Endometriosis can involve or compress a ureter with little to no pelvic pain, especially when scarring (fibrosis) gradually narrows the ureter over time. In those cases, the main problem isn’t “how it feels,” but what it can silently do—backing urine up toward the kidney (hydronephrosis) and risking loss of kidney function.

Some people do have warning signs (flank/back pain, recurrent “UTI-like” symptoms, urinary urgency/frequency, or blood in the urine), but others don’t notice anything until imaging shows swelling of the kidney or a change in urinary tract drainage. Because symptoms can be unreliable, we take urinary-tract involvement seriously when your story, exam, or imaging raises the possibility.

If you’re worried about ureter involvement, our team can help you sort out whether endometriosis is likely, what other conditions could mimic it, and which imaging or evaluation steps are most informative. If obstruction is confirmed, treatment often requires a coordinated plan to protect the kidney and address the root cause, which may include meticulous excision around the ureter in the hands of an experienced surgical team.