Can endometriosis cause shortness of breath during your period?

Yes—endometriosis can cause shortness of breath that worsens around your period, most often when disease involves the diaphragm and, more rarely, the chest cavity. A hallmark is a cyclical pattern: symptoms flare right before or during bleeding and ease afterward.

People may also notice chest tightness or pain and referred pain to the shoulder, especially on one side. Because breathlessness can also come from many non-endometriosis causes, we take this symptom seriously and focus on the timing of symptoms, associated pain, and your full history to understand whether a thoracic pattern could be involved. If you’re experiencing period-linked shortness of breath, our team can help evaluate what’s driving it and discuss next steps for diagnosis and treatment planning.