gynecology and obstetrics
Endometriosis
Introduction
In endometriosis, functioning endometrial cells are implanted in the pelvis outside the uterine cavity. Symptoms depend on location of the implants. The classic triad of symptoms is dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, and infertility, but symptoms may also include dysuria and pain during defecation. Severity of symptoms is not related to disease stage. Diagnosis is by direct visualization and sometimes biopsy, usually via laparoscopy. Treatments include anti-inflammatory drugs, drugs to suppress ovarian function and endometrial tissue growth, surgical ablation and excision of endometriotic implants, and, if disease is severe and no childbearing is planned, hysterectomy alone or hysterectomy plus bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. Endometriosis is usually confined to the peritoneal or serosal surfaces of pelvic organs, commonly the ovaries, broad ligaments, posterior cul-de-sac, and uterosacral ligaments. Less common sites include the fallopian tubes, serosal surfaces of the small and large intestines, ureters, bladder, vagina, cervix, surgical scars, and, more rarely, the lung, pleura, and pericardium. Bleeding from peritoneal implants is thought to initiate sterile inflammation, followed by fibrin deposition, adhesion formation, and, eventually, scarring, which distorts peritoneal surfaces of organs, leading to pain and distorted pelvic anatomy. Reported prevalencevaries but is about 6 to 10% in all women 25 to 50% in infertile women 75 to 80% in women with chronic Female Pelvic Pain None Average age at diagnosis is 27 years, but endometriosis also occurs among adolescents. 