Endometriosis in United Arab Emirates: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment | aihealz
ObstetricsmoderateICD-10 · N80.9
Endometriosis.Care & specialists in United Arab Emirates
In United Arab Emirates, endometriosis is managed by obstetricss. Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent inflammatory disease in which tissue resembling the uterine lining grows outside the uterus — on the ovaries, pelvic peritoneum, bowel, bladder, and occasionally beyond the pelvis. The World Health Organization estimates that endometriosis affects roughly 10% of reproductive-age women and girls globally, around 190 million people.
aliases · Endometriosis (uterine-like tissue growing outside the uterus)· गर्भाशय की परत बाहर बढ़ना (Endometriosis)· Endometriose· Endometriosis· reviewed May 12, 2026
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Reviewed by AIHealz Medical Editorial Board · ObstetricsLast reviewed May 12, 2026
Endometriosis (ICD-10: N80) is a chronic, estrogen-dependent inflammatory disorder defined by the presence of endometrial-like glands and stroma at sites outside the uterine cavity. The ectopic tissue responds to ovarian hormones in a cyclical fashion, producing local inflammation, neoangiogenesis, fibrosis, neural infiltration, and adhesion formation. Three principal phenotypes are now recognized: superficial peritoneal endometriosis (the most common form, presenting as red, blue-black, or white peritoneal implants), ovarian endometrioma (the so-called chocolate cyst, an ovarian cyst filled with degraded menstrual blood), and deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) — nodular lesions that penetrate more than 5 mm beneath the peritoneal surface, typically involving the uterosacral ligaments, rectovaginal septum, bowel, bladder, or ureters. A rare thoracic form can cause catamenial pneumothorax.
key facts
Prevalence
~10% of women and girls of reproductive age (WHO 2023); 30-50% of women with infertility
Demographics
Predominantly affects women aged 15-49; can begin with menarche and persist after menopause when estrogen exposure continues
Avg. age
Symptom onset typically in teens to early 30s; mean age at surgical diagnosis 28 years
Global cases
Approximately 190 million women and girls worldwide (WHO 2023)
Specialist
Obstetrics
ICD-10
N80.9
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How you might notice it
The key symptoms of Endometriosis are: Progressively worsening dysmenorrhea — period pain that grows more severe year on year, often starts 1-2 days before menses, and no longer responds to over-the-counter NSAIDs., Chronic pelvic pain outside menstruation, often described as deep, dragging, or cramping, present for at least 6 months in many patients., Deep dyspareunia — pain felt deep in the pelvis with vaginal intercourse, especially in positions that allow deeper penetration; characteristic of uterosacral or rectovaginal disease., Dyschezia and cyclical bowel symptoms — painful bowel movements, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, or rectal bleeding that worsen around menses and suggest bowel involvement., Dysuria, urinary urgency, or cyclical hematuria pointing to bladder or ureteric endometriosis., Infertility or difficulty conceiving, present in 30-50% of women diagnosed with endometriosis and often the first reason for evaluation., Heavy menstrual bleeding (menorrhagia) or intermenstrual spotting, especially when adenomyosis coexists..
01Progressively worsening dysmenorrhea — period pain that grows more severe year on year, often starts 1-2 days before menses, and no longer responds to over-the-counter NSAIDs.
02Chronic pelvic pain outside menstruation, often described as deep, dragging, or cramping, present for at least 6 months in many patients.
03Deep dyspareunia — pain felt deep in the pelvis with vaginal intercourse, especially in positions that allow deeper penetration; characteristic of uterosacral or rectovaginal disease.
04Dyschezia and cyclical bowel symptoms — painful bowel movements, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, or rectal bleeding that worsen around menses and suggest bowel involvement.
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How it’s diagnosed
diagnosis
Diagnosis of endometriosis begins with a focused symptom history that asks specifically about cyclical pain, dyspareunia, bowel and bladder symptoms timed to menses, and fertility difficulty — questions still missing from many primary care visits and a major driver of diagnostic delay. Bimanual and speculum examination may reveal tenderness, uterosacral nodularity, a fixed retroverted uterus, or a posterior fornix nodule, and the exam is best timed to menstruation when lesions are most palpable. The 2022 ESHRE guideline (Becker et al) is explicit that laparoscopy is no longer required to make a clinical diagnosis: a careful history plus imaging is now sufficient to initiate empirical treatment. Transvaginal ultrasound by a trained operator is first-line imaging, reliably detecting ovarian endometriomas and many forms of deep infiltrating disease using the IDEA consensus sonographic signs (kissing ovaries, sliding sign, hypoechoic nodules of the uterosacral ligaments, bowel-wall infiltration). MRI complements ultrasound for mapping bowel, ureteric, and rectovaginal disease before surgery and for distinguishing endometriosis from adenomyosis. CA-125 is not recommended for diagnosis: it lacks sensitivity and specificity, rises in many benign conditions, and can be normal even in stage IV disease. Laparoscopy with histologic confirmation retains a role when imaging is inconclusive, when surgical treatment is planned, or when fertility decisions hinge on disease stage. The principal differentials — adenomyosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, irritable bowel syndrome, interstitial cystitis, primary dysmenorrhea, and uterine fibroids — are best sorted with a combination of imaging, focused history, and response to empirical therapy.
Key tests
01
Transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS) with IDEA protocolFirst-line imaging for endometriomas and many deep infiltrating lesions. The IDEA consensus describes structured assessment for the sliding sign, uterosacral nodules, bladder and bowel involvement, and kissing ovaries.
02
Pelvic MRI
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Treatment & cost
medical treatments
✓Combined hormonal contraceptive — continuous regimen (e.g., ethinyl estradiol 20-30 mcg + progestin, taken without pill-free interval)
✓Oral dienogest (2 mg daily)
✓Levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (52 mg LNG-IUS)
✓Norethindrone acetate (5-15 mg daily)
surgical options
Laparoscopic excision of endometriosisImprovement in pain at 12 months in approximately 70-80% of patients; recurrence requiring further intervention 20-50% over 5 years.
Laparoscopic cystectomy of ovarian endometriomaPain relief in 80-90% short-term; cyst recurrence approximately 20% at 5 years. Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) falls by an average of 30% after bilateral cystectomy.
Bowel resection or shaving for rectosigmoid endometriosisPain and bowel-symptom relief in approximately 85% of selected patients; complication rates 5-15% including anastomotic leak (1-3%) and rectovaginal fistula.
Ureteric reimplantation or ureterolysisRenal function preserved in over 90% of cases when performed before significant parenchymal loss.
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Causes & risk factors
known causes
Retrograde menstruation with implantation
Sampson's classical theory: viable endometrial fragments flow backward through the fallopian tubes during menses and implant on peritoneal surfaces. Retrograde menstruation is near-universal, so it is necessary but not sufficient — additional immune, hormonal, and genetic factors determine who develops disease.
Coelomic metaplasia
Pluripotent peritoneal cells transform into endometrial-like tissue under hormonal or inflammatory cues. This theory explains endometriosis in pre-menarchal girls, post-hysterectomy women, and rare cases in men receiving estrogen therapy.
Lymphatic and vascular dissemination
Endometrial cells spread through lymphatics and blood vessels to distant sites such as the lung, pleura, diaphragm, brain, and surgical scars — explaining extragenital and thoracic endometriosis.
Genetic susceptibility
Family-based and genome-wide studies show heritability of approximately 50%. Loci near WNT4, GREB1, FN1, KDR, and CDKN2B-AS1 are reproducibly associated with endometriosis; first-degree relatives of affected women carry roughly a 7-fold increased risk.
Estrogen excess and progesterone resistance
Endometriotic lesions upregulate aromatase (the enzyme that synthesizes estrogen locally) and downregulate progesterone receptors, sustaining their own proliferation and inflammation despite the surrounding hormonal environment.
Altered immune surveillance
Reduced natural killer cell activity, macrophage polarization toward an M2 phenotype, and increased pro-inflammatory cytokines in peritoneal fluid allow ectopic endometrial fragments to survive, implant, and recruit blood supply.
Environmental and developmental exposures
Prenatal exposure to diethylstilbestrol, dioxin, and persistent organic pollutants is linked to higher endometriosis incidence in observational data. Early menarche and shorter cycles increase lifetime menstrual exposure and risk.
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Living with it
01Use combined hormonal contraception or LNG-IUS in adolescents and young women with severe primary dysmenorrhea — observational data suggest this may slow progression of subclinical disease
02Maintain regular physical activity, which is associated with roughly 20% lower endometriosis incidence in prospective cohorts
03Limit trans-fat intake and prioritize omega-3-rich foods — diet patterns associated with lower endometriosis incidence in the Nurses' Health Study II
04Promptly evaluate Mullerian outflow obstruction in adolescents with severe pain and absent menses, as relief of obstruction reduces retrograde menstrual burden
05Avoid prolonged unopposed estrogen exposure in post-hysterectomy patients with known endometriosis — combined estrogen-progestin regimens are safer for residual disease
recommended foods
•Oily fish (salmon, mackerel, sardines) twice weekly — higher omega-3 intake is associated with 22% lower endometriosis incidence in cohort data
•Fruit and green leafy vegetables — antioxidant-rich patterns reduce oxidative stress in peritoneal fluid
•
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When to seek help
why see an obstetrics
Refer to a gynecologist when cyclical pelvic pain is severe enough to disrupt daily activity, when first-line analgesia and combined hormonal contraception have failed, when infertility is part of the picture, when ultrasound shows an endometrioma or deep infiltrating disease, or when bowel, bladder, or ureteric symptoms suggest extragenital involvement. Complex deep infiltrating endometriosis should be managed at specialist or multidisciplinary endometriosis centers where colorectal, urology, and reproductive surgery teams can coordinate.
01Infertility — affects 30-50% of women with endometriosis through anatomical distortion, ovarian damage, altered peritoneal environment, and reduced oocyte quality
02Chronic pelvic pain with central sensitization — pain that persists despite anatomical clearance and requires multidisciplinary pain management
03Bowel obstruction or stenosis from deep infiltrating disease — uncommon but requires surgical intervention
04Ureteric obstruction with hydronephrosis and potential renal damage — often silent until significant function loss; routine renal imaging in known DIE is warranted
05Reduced ovarian reserve and earlier menopause, especially after bilateral endometrioma cystectomy
Superficial peritoneal endometriosisFlat or vesicular lesions on the peritoneal surface lining the pelvis. The most common phenotype, often missed on imaging and identified at laparoscopy.
Ovarian endometrioma (chocolate cyst)A cyst within the ovary filled with old, degraded menstrual blood that gives it a chocolate-brown appearance. Reliably detected by transvaginal ultrasound; associated with reduced ovarian reserve.
Deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE)Nodules penetrating more than 5 mm into the peritoneum, usually in the uterosacral ligaments, posterior cul-de-sac, rectovaginal septum, bowel, bladder, or ureters. Drives the most severe pain and may require multidisciplinary surgery.
Thoracic endometriosisRare extragenital form with diaphragmatic or pleural implants. Presents with catamenial chest pain, shoulder-tip pain, hemoptysis, or pneumothorax that recurs with each period.
Iatrogenic and scar endometriosisDeposits implanted at surgical scars after cesarean section or laparotomy. Presents as a cyclical, tender nodule in or near the scar.
Living with Endometriosis
Timeline
Hormonal therapy typically reduces pain within 4-12 weeks; full benefit by 6 months. After laparoscopic excision, most patients return to light activity within 1 week, normal activity by 2-4 weeks, and report sustained pain improvement by 3-6 months. Following bowel resection or other major DIE surgery, recovery is 6-12 weeks. Fertility outcomes are typically assessed over 6-12 months of attempted conception after surgery, with IVF cycles taking 4-8 weeks each.
Lifestyle
01Track symptoms daily during at least three menstrual cycles using a paper diary or app — patterns guide both diagnosis and treatment adjustments
02Apply heat to the lower abdomen during flares; topical heat compares favorably to ibuprofen for short-term menstrual pain relief in randomized trials
03Engage in low-impact aerobic activity (walking, swimming, cycling) most days — exercise improves pain, fatigue, and quality of life in endometriosis-specific studies
04Prioritize 7-9 hours of sleep — poor sleep amplifies pain perception and is independently linked to worse endometriosis symptom scores
05Identify and treat coexisting pelvic floor dysfunction with a trained physiotherapist when dyspareunia or post-void aching is present
06Build a working relationship with employers or schools regarding flexible time during severe flares; recognized policies meaningfully reduce work loss
Daily management
Complementary approaches
Pelvic floor physiotherapyAddresses myofascial hypertonia, trigger points, and pelvic floor dyssynergia that contribute to dyspareunia and chronic pelvic pain. Recommended by ESHRE 2022 as adjunctive care when pelvic floor dysfunction is identified on exam.
Cognitive behavioral therapy and pain neuroscience educationReduces pain catastrophizing and improves function in chronic pelvic pain. Evidence-supported as adjunctive treatment, not a replacement for medical or surgical management.
AcupunctureCochrane and randomized data show small short-term reductions in menstrual pain. Reasonable adjunct for patients seeking non-pharmacologic options; effect size modest.
Choosing a doctor
Look for board certification in obstetrics and gynecology with subspecialty training or accreditation in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery or reproductive medicine. Ask about case volumes for endometriosis excision (specialist centers typically perform several hundred per year), use of advanced transvaginal ultrasound or MRI for preoperative mapping, and access to a multidisciplinary team. Continuity matters — endometriosis care often spans years, includes fertility decisions, and benefits from a single accountable clinician coordinating across specialties.
Patient support resources
Endometriosis UK →UK patient charity with helpline, support groups, and educational resources aligned with NICE NG73.
Endometriosis Foundation of America →US patient organization offering education, advocacy, and a clinician directory for specialist endometriosis care.
WHO — Endometriosis Fact Sheet →Authoritative global overview from the World Health Organization, useful for patients seeking population-level context.
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Frequently asked
What is endometriosis in simple terms?▾▴
Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus — most often on the ovaries, the lining of the pelvis, and ligaments near the uterus. This tissue still responds to monthly hormones, so it bleeds and inflames with each period. Over time it causes pain, scarring, and difficulty getting pregnant. It affects around 10% of reproductive-age women globally.
How is endometriosis diagnosed?▾▴
Diagnosis starts with a detailed history of cyclical pelvic pain, painful periods, painful intercourse, and bowel or bladder symptoms timed to menses. A pelvic examination plus transvaginal ultrasound by a trained sonographer is first-line and can detect ovarian endometriomas and many deep lesions. MRI is used for complex disease. The 2022 ESHRE guideline no longer requires laparoscopy to make the diagnosis, though surgery is still used when imaging is inconclusive or treatment is planned.
Why does endometriosis take so long to diagnose?▾▴
Average delay from first symptom to diagnosis is 7-10 years. Period pain is often normalized in family and clinical settings, symptoms overlap with bowel and bladder conditions, and there is no reliable blood test. Until recently, definitive diagnosis required surgery, which slowed evaluation. Specialist ultrasound and updated clinical criteria are starting to shorten this delay.
Is endometriosis curable?▾▴
There is no permanent cure, but the disease can be effectively controlled. Hormonal suppression keeps symptoms quiet as long as it is taken; surgical excision can produce sustained relief but recurrence happens in 20-50% of patients over 5 years. Symptoms generally improve at menopause when ovarian estrogen falls, although they can persist if hormone therapy continues or if scarring drives pain.
What are the early signs of endometriosis?▾▴
Early signs include period pain severe enough to miss school or work, pain that no longer responds to over-the-counter painkillers, pain with deep vaginal intercourse, bowel or bladder symptoms tied to the menstrual cycle, and difficulty getting pregnant. Severe primary dysmenorrhea in a teenager is a particularly common but underrecognized early sign.
Can I get pregnant if I have endometriosis?▾▴
Many women with endometriosis conceive naturally, especially with mild disease. Around 30-50% of women evaluated for infertility have endometriosis. Treatment options range from expectant management with cycle tracking to surgical excision and assisted reproductive technology. IVF live-birth rates in endometriosis are broadly similar to other infertility causes, especially in women under 35.
What is deep infiltrating endometriosis?▾▴
Deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) describes nodules that penetrate more than 5 mm beneath the peritoneum, usually on the uterosacral ligaments, the rectovaginal septum, the bowel wall, the bladder, or the ureters. It causes the most severe pain, painful bowel movements, dyspareunia, and sometimes bowel or urinary obstruction. DIE typically needs specialist multidisciplinary surgery.
What is an endometrioma (chocolate cyst)?▾▴
An endometrioma is an ovarian cyst formed by endometriosis. It fills with thick, brown, degraded menstrual blood — the so-called chocolate appearance. Endometriomas are visible on transvaginal ultrasound, can damage surrounding ovarian tissue, and are associated with reduced ovarian reserve. Treatment depends on size, symptoms, and fertility plans.
What treatments are available for endometriosis pain?▾▴
First-line treatment combines NSAIDs with continuous combined hormonal contraception or a progestin such as dienogest, norethindrone, or the LNG-IUS. Second-line options include GnRH antagonists (elagolix, relugolix combinations) or GnRH agonists with add-back therapy. Laparoscopic excision is used when medical therapy fails, when deep disease is present, or for fertility indications. Multidisciplinary pain care helps when symptoms persist after lesion clearance.
Does endometriosis go away after menopause?▾▴
Most patients improve substantially at menopause as ovarian estrogen falls and lesions become inactive. Symptoms can persist or recur when hormone replacement therapy is used, when peripheral estrogen from adipose tissue remains high, or when scarring continues to cause mechanical pain. Combined estrogen-progestin HRT (not estrogen alone) is generally recommended for women with a history of endometriosis on HRT.
Does a hysterectomy cure endometriosis?▾▴
Hysterectomy treats adenomyosis and uterine-origin pain but does not cure endometriosis on its own. The benefit depends on whether all visible endometriotic lesions are excised at the same time and whether the ovaries are removed. Around 85-90% of well-selected patients have long-term pain relief from hysterectomy combined with complete lesion excision; the remainder have persisting pain often related to central sensitization.
Is endometriosis hereditary?▾▴
There is a strong genetic component. Heritability estimates from twin and family studies are around 50%. A first-degree relative with endometriosis raises personal risk roughly 7-fold, and family history is also associated with more severe disease. Multiple genetic variants have been identified through genome-wide association studies, but no single test predicts endometriosis.
Can teenagers have endometriosis?▾▴
Yes. Endometriosis can begin within months of menarche. Adolescents typically present with disabling period pain, school absence, and pelvic pain between periods. Recognition has historically been poor, and diagnostic delay in this group is among the longest. Combined hormonal contraception is the usual first-line treatment, often started before any imaging or surgery is considered.
How does endometriosis affect intercourse?▾▴
Deep dyspareunia — pain felt deep in the pelvis with vaginal penetration — is a hallmark symptom, especially when uterosacral ligaments or the rectovaginal septum are involved. Pain is often worse in positions that allow deeper penetration and can persist for hours afterwards. Effective treatment combines hormonal therapy, pelvic floor physiotherapy, and in some cases excisional surgery.
What is the difference between endometriosis and adenomyosis?▾▴
Endometriosis describes endometrial-like tissue outside the uterus. Adenomyosis describes the same tissue growing within the uterine muscle wall, causing a heavy, painful, bulky uterus. The two often coexist. Adenomyosis is best seen on MRI or specialist transvaginal ultrasound; endometriosis is identified by peritoneal, ovarian, or DIE findings.
How much does endometriosis treatment cost?▾▴
Costs vary widely by country and treatment level. Generic combined hormonal contraceptives, NSAIDs, norethindrone, and depot medroxyprogesterone are inexpensive globally. GnRH antagonists and proprietary progestins are more costly and often need prior authorization. Laparoscopic excision at a specialist center, IVF cycles, and bowel or ureteric resection are the largest cost drivers. Many health systems cover medical therapy and surgery; IVF coverage is more variable.
Is laparoscopy still needed to diagnose endometriosis?▾▴
No, not always. The 2022 ESHRE guideline accepts clinical diagnosis based on symptoms, examination, and imaging — particularly specialist transvaginal ultrasound and MRI. Laparoscopy remains essential when imaging is inconclusive, when fertility decisions require accurate staging, or when excisional treatment is planned. The trend is toward earlier empirical hormonal therapy and surgery only when needed.
What does an endometriosis flare feel like?▾▴
Patients describe stabbing or cramping pelvic pain that builds over hours, often radiates to the lower back or legs, and is accompanied by nausea, bloating, fatigue, and sometimes diarrhea. Flares typically cluster around menses but can occur at ovulation or any point in the cycle. Heat, NSAIDs taken early, and rest help most patients ride out a flare; persistent severe flares should prompt medical review.
Does diet really affect endometriosis?▾▴
Diet has a modest but real role. Higher omega-3 intake (oily fish twice weekly) is associated with about 22% lower endometriosis incidence in cohort data, while high trans-fat intake is associated with 48% higher risk. There is no proven endometriosis diet, and very restrictive elimination diets should be approached with a dietitian to avoid nutritional deficiencies.
Will endometriosis come back after surgery?▾▴
Recurrence is possible. Pain or imaging recurrence is reported in 20-50% of patients over 5 years after laparoscopic excision, depending on completeness of surgery, lesion type, and postoperative hormonal maintenance. Continuous combined hormonal contraception, dienogest, or the LNG-IUS after surgery substantially reduces recurrence and is recommended unless the patient is actively trying to conceive.
Does endometriosis raise cancer risk?▾▴
Endometriosis carries a small absolute increase in lifetime risk of ovarian endometrioid and clear-cell carcinoma, particularly with long-standing endometriomas. The relative risk is roughly 2-3 fold, but the baseline risk is low, so most patients never develop these cancers. Routine screening is not recommended; persistent large endometriomas in older women are watched more closely.
05Dysuria, urinary urgency, or cyclical hematuria pointing to bladder or ureteric endometriosis.
06Infertility or difficulty conceiving, present in 30-50% of women diagnosed with endometriosis and often the first reason for evaluation.
07Heavy menstrual bleeding (menorrhagia) or intermenstrual spotting, especially when adenomyosis coexists.
08Fatigue that is disproportionate to activity and often follows pain flares, reported by more than half of patients in survey data.
09Cyclical shoulder-tip or chest pain, hemoptysis, or recurrent pneumothorax around menses — red flags for thoracic endometriosis.
10A tender, palpable nodule in a previous cesarean or laparoscopy scar that swells and hurts during each period — typical of scar endometriosis.
early warning signs
•Period pain severe enough to miss school, work, or social activity in the first few years after menarche
•NSAIDs and combined oral contraceptive pills no longer controlling pain that was previously manageable
•New deep pelvic pain with intercourse in a previously asymptomatic woman
•Difficulty conceiving after 12 months of regular unprotected intercourse (or 6 months if over 35) with otherwise unremarkable basic fertility tests
•Cyclical bowel or bladder symptoms that consistently track with the menstrual cycle
● emergency signs
•Sudden severe one-sided pelvic pain with nausea or vomiting — possible ruptured endometrioma, ovarian torsion, or ectopic pregnancy
•Catamenial chest pain, shortness of breath, or coughing up blood — thoracic endometriosis or pneumothorax requires urgent chest imaging
•Inability to pass urine, flank pain, or fever with known pelvic endometriosis — possible ureteric obstruction or pyelonephritis
•Severe rectal bleeding or signs of bowel obstruction (vomiting, abdominal distension, no flatus) — bowel endometriosis requiring surgical assessment
Maps deep infiltrating endometriosis, bowel and ureteric involvement, and adenomyosis. Particularly useful before complex surgery and when ultrasound is equivocal.
03
Diagnostic laparoscopy with biopsyDirect visualization and histologic confirmation. Performed when imaging is inconclusive, when fertility planning requires accurate staging, or as the entry step for excisional surgery.
04
Bimanual pelvic examinationDetects uterosacral nodularity, posterior fornix tenderness, fixed retroversion, and adnexal masses. Higher yield when performed during menses.
05
Symptom diary and validated questionnairesTracks pain location, intensity, and timing across cycles. Tools such as the Endometriosis Health Profile-30 (EHP-30) and visual analog scales support diagnosis and treatment response.
06
CA-125 (selective use only)Not recommended for diagnosis. May be useful for monitoring known severe disease or distinguishing endometrioma from ovarian malignancy in older women with complex cysts.
07
Endometriosis Fertility Index (EFI) at laparoscopyCombines surgical findings with patient factors to predict spontaneous conception rates after surgery and guide ART decisions.
Outlook
Endometriosis is chronic but well-controlled in most patients with combined medical and, where indicated, surgical therapy. Continuous hormonal suppression keeps symptoms in remission as long as it is maintained; pain typically returns within 6-12 months of stopping. After laparoscopic excision, 70-80% of patients report clinically meaningful pain improvement at 12 months, with recurrence rates of 20-50% over 5 years depending on completeness of surgery and postoperative hormonal maintenance. Spontaneous conception is possible in many women with minimal to moderate disease, and assisted reproductive technology achieves live-birth rates comparable to other infertility etiologies — typically 30-40% per IVF cycle in women under 35. Endometriosis carries a small absolute increase in lifetime risk of ovarian endometrioid and clear-cell carcinoma; this risk does not warrant routine screening but is one reason large persistent endometriomas in older women are watched closely. Quality of life scores improve significantly with effective treatment, though chronic pain components can persist if central sensitization has developed before lesion clearance.
risk factors
Family history of endometriosisgenetic
A first-degree relative with endometriosis increases personal risk roughly 7-fold and predicts more severe disease.
Early menarche (before age 11)non-modifiable
More menstrual cycles over a lifetime increase cumulative retrograde menstruation; early menarche raises endometriosis risk by approximately 30%.
Short menstrual cycles (under 27 days)non-modifiable
Shorter intervals mean more menstrual events per year and a steeper exposure curve to ectopic endometrial seeding.
Nulliparitynon-modifiable
Pregnancy and lactation produce months of progesterone-dominant anovulation that quiets lesions; women who have never been pregnant carry roughly twice the risk.
Heavy or prolonged menstrual flownon-modifiable
Greater menstrual volume increases retrograde flow into the pelvis.
Low body mass indexmodifiable
Lean body habitus is consistently associated with higher endometriosis prevalence, possibly via higher bioavailable estrogen and shorter cycles.
Mullerian anomalies with outflow obstructionnon-modifiable
Imperforate hymen, transverse vaginal septum, or non-communicating uterine horn cause retained menstrual blood and a markedly elevated endometriosis risk.
Daughters of women given DES during pregnancy in the 1940s-70s show approximately 80% increased endometriosis risk.
Caucasian and Asian ancestrynon-modifiable
Population studies show higher reported prevalence in Asian women (notably Japanese) and lower in Black women, though detection bias likely contributes.
Whole grains, legumes, and nuts as fiber sources, which support healthy estrogen metabolism
•Adequate calcium and vitamin D, especially for patients on GnRH analog therapy who face bone density loss
•Plenty of water and herbal teas during flares to support bowel regularity
foods to avoid
•High trans-fat intake (fried fast food, partially hydrogenated margarines) — associated with 48% higher endometriosis risk in NHS II data
•Excessive red and processed meat (more than 2 servings per day) — observational links to higher incidence
•Heavy alcohol use, which raises endogenous estrogen and worsens disease activity
•Highly restrictive elimination diets without dietitian supervision — these can worsen nutrition without proven benefit
06
Small absolute increase in ovarian endometrioid and clear-cell carcinoma risk, particularly with long-standing endometriomas
Take hormonal therapy at the same time each day — adherence is the strongest predictor of sustained pain control
02Keep an as-needed NSAID prescription available for breakthrough pain, started early in each cycle before pain peaks
03Use a symptom-tracking app to record pain, bleeding, bowel and bladder symptoms, and impact on activity
04Schedule rest days around predicted heavy days where possible and inform close family or workplace contacts of the pattern
05Maintain regular follow-up with the gynecology team — every 6-12 months for stable disease, sooner if symptoms change or fertility plans shift
Exercise
Low-impact aerobic activity such as walking, swimming, or cycling is safe and beneficial. Aim for 150 minutes per week. Add core and pelvic floor strengthening only under guidance if pelvic floor dysfunction is suspected. During severe flares, rest is appropriate; resume movement as pain settles. High-impact activity is acceptable between flares for most patients and should not be avoided out of fear of harm.