Endometriosis Diagnosis
The path to diagnosis may not always be simple and every woman’s journey is different. Below are some steps for you and your gynecologist to consider
Doctor’s appointment:
Talk about all of your symptoms with your gynecologist. Remember to include the impact of your symptoms on day-to-day activities. If you're not sure how to start the conversation,
If you're looking for a gynecologist, there are various
you can go to find the right one
Pelvic exam:
After you talk about your symptoms with your gynecologist, he or she could give you a pelvic exam to feel for any endometriosis lesions, such as cysts or scars
Ultrasound:
Sometimes, ovarian cysts from endometriosis can be seen on an ultrasound—a type of imaging that uses sound waves to produce pictures of the inside of the body
Blood test:
Your doctor may suggest a blood test to rule out other conditions
Treatment:
By trying different
your doctor might be able to assess whether or not you have endometriosis
Laparoscopy (LAP-uh-RAH-skuh-pee):
Your doctor may suggest a surgical procedure called a laparoscopy to actually look inside of your pelvis to see lesions. Surgery can help confirm the diagnosis of endometriosis. During the laparoscopy, your gynecologist may remove a small piece of tissue to study. This is called a biopsy
Why can it take so long to be diagnosed with endometriosis?
Endometriosis can take a while to properly diagnose—averaging anywhere from up to 6 to 10 years, in fact. This happens for a few reasons, including:
- Symptoms being dismissed as “just bad periods.” This is especially true of younger women
- Some symptoms of endometriosis may be similar to symptoms of other diseases
- About 1 out of 3 women consults 3 to 4 physicians before receiving an endometriosis diagnosis*
Based on a self-reported 1998 Endometriosis Association survey of 4334 respondents reporting a surgical diagnosis of endometriosis.
References: 1. Giudice LC, Evers JLH, Healy DL, eds. Endometriosis: Science and Practice. Oxford, England: Wiley-Blackwell; 2012. 2. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Frequently asked questions. FAQ013. Gynecologic problems. https://www.acog.org/~/media/For%20Patients/faq013.pdf?dmc=1.Updated October 2012. Accessed January 8, 2020. 3. US Department of Health and Human Services. Endometriosis. http://www.womenshealth.gov/a-ztopics/endometriosis. Updated April 1, 2019. Accessed January 9, 2020. 4. Fischer JR. APGO Educational Series on Women’s Health Issues. Diagnosis & management of endometriosis: pathophysiology to practice. Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics; 2012. 5. Giudice LC. Endometriosis. N Engl J Med. 2010;362(25):2389-2398. 6. Greene R, Stratton P, Cleary SD, Ballweg ML, Sinaii N. Diagnostic experience among 4,334 women reporting surgically diagnosed endometriosis. Fertil Steril. 2009;91(1):32-39.
