What is endometriosis and how is it diagnosed?
Endometriosis is a condition, when the endometrium (the lining of the uterus) is found in other places than the uterine cavity. Endometriotic implants can be found on pelvic sidewall, fallopian tubes, ovaries, bowel, bladder, and less commonly outside of the pelvic cavity. Like the endometrial lining in the uterus, these implants undergo similar changes in response to the cyclic hormonal changes. The implants may swell and bleed every month causing pain. Endometriosis may also lead to cysts and adhesions. This condition is found in approximately 20% of women. The most common symptoms of endometriosis are pain with your period, irregular bleeding and infertility. At the present time there is no simple test for diagnosing endometriosis. The only way to diagnose endometriosis with certainty is by laparoscopy and biopsy. Rarely large endometriotic lesions can be diagnosed by ultrasound.
