About five and a half million women in North America have endometriosis, yet no one seems to talk about it. Some women don't experience symptoms, but the bigger reason for the silence is that not many women want to talk about how painful their periods can be. Yet, ignoring the problem could lead to infertility and require a hysterectomy. Address the issue with your doctor now — it can help you avoid major surgery, and get you medication to ease your pain.