Endometriosis

Signs & symptoms

Typically, symptoms of endometriosis worsen over time. The severity of symptoms varies, and some women may not experience any symptoms at all. Symptoms may stop after menopause or during pregnancy, though they will return after the woman has the baby and begins menstruating again.

Common symptoms may include:

• Pelvic pain and cramping before and during periods
• Lower back and stomach pain during periods
• Excessive bleeding during periods
• Pelvic pain during intercourse
• Fatigue
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Nausea
• Infertility

These symptoms can occur with other conditions. If you're experiencing any of these symptoms, see your doctor to determine the cause.

Diagnosis

In diagnosing endometriosis, your doctor will begin by asking about your symptoms and conducting a physical exam, including a pelvic exam to check for any abnormalities, though these are typically hard to detect without other, more advanced tests.

The tests may include:

• Pelvic exam. This is done to check a woman's vagina, uterus, bladder and rectum. The doctor feels these organs for any lumps or changes in their shape or size. To see the upper part of the vagina and the cervix, the doctor inserts an instrument called a speculum into the vagina.
• Transvaginal ultrasound. In this test, a doctor inserts an instrument into the vagina that aims high-frequency sound waves at the uterus. The pattern of the echoes they produce creates a picture.
• Laparoscopy. This is a surgical procedure that uses tiny incisions and a scope, called a laparoscope, to view the pelvic and other abdominal organs to look for signs of endometrial tissue outside the uterus.
• CA125 test. This is a blood test that checks levels of a blood protein known as CA125, which is a tumor marker for certain gynecological cancers, but is also used to detect a specific protein found in the blood of women who have endometriosis. However, it is important to note that CA125 levels also may be increased during pregnancy, menstruation and in the presence of other non-cancerous gynecologic diseases or cancers.

Treatments

There are several different treatment options available for endometriosis. Your doctor will discuss each treatment in detail and help you determine those that best meet your needs. Treatment may depend on the severity of your condition, your age and whether or not you are planning to have children, and whether you have any other associated conditions.

Medications

Hormonal therapies can help slow the growth of endometriosis. These include birth control pills, progestins, Danazol and the newer drugs known as aromatase inhibitors, which act by interrupting local estrogen formation within the endometrial growths.

Over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen can be taken to manage pelvic pain and menstrual cramping.

Surgery

Surgery may be recommended for some women who are trying to get pregnant and for those who suffer from severe pelvic pain. Conservative surgery removes endometrial growths, scar tissue and adhesions without removing reproductive organs. This may be performed laparoscopically, using a slender scope called a laparoscope, which is inserted through a tiny incision near the navel. The laparoscope has a laser or small surgical instruments which remove growths.

In the most severe cases, a hysterectomy — with or without the removal of the ovaries — is performed. This is typically a last resort, particularly for women who are still in their reproductive years. Also, while surgery can be very effective in treating endometriosis, the recurrence rate of the condition after surgery is an estimated 40 percent.

Women who are experiencing infertility due to endometriosis may also benefit from treatment from an infertility specialist.