Endometriosis

There is no specific test to detect endometriosis, but it can be suspected through symptoms and a physical examination. In some cases, an imaging test (ultrasound or MRI) may be helpful.
The only way to know for sure if you have endometriosis is to remove endometrial tissue through surgery and analyze it.

Endometriosis is a chronic benign disease that depends on hormones (estrogens). It is associated with a slight increase in the risk of certain types of ovarian cancer. This risk is significantly reduced with contraceptive treatment. No screening tests are recommended because the incidence is very low and there is no effective test.

Surgery should be considered when chronic pelvic pain does not improve with medical treatment, when there are large endometriomas, and when endometriotic implants compromise the proper functioning of other organs such as the intestines or bladder. In some cases, surgery is performed to improve reproductive prognosis.

The aftereffects of surgery largely depend on which pelvic structures are affected and on the stage of the disease. Chronic pain may persist, genitourinary and intestinal injuries secondary to surgery may occur, or abdominal adhesions may develop (certain tissues or organs stick to each other).

Unfortunately, endometriosis cannot be prevented. However, treatment with contraceptives or hormones that interrupt the menstrual cycle can slow its progression and alleviate the symptoms of the disease. In addition, it is known that women with endometriosis who become pregnant experience a significant improvement in their clinical condition.

The most significant advance in recent years is that surgical indications have become increasingly limited. This helps preserve ovarian function and fertility in patients affected by the disease, since surgery greatly impacts ovarian reserve.
There is still a long way to go to fully understand this disease and thereby improve its treatment and prognosis.