ENDOMETRIOSIS: DIAGNOSIS
Apart from the 10 to 15 per cent of women who have endometriosis but have no symptoms, most people will have a history of something being not quite right. It is rare that a woman has the ‘textbook’ symptoms, and because they can be so varied, and may develop gradually, it is not always obvious that the cause is endometriosis. In my own experience many women are reluctant to blurt out to their doctor that they have problems like pain with intercourse, for example, particularly if the symptoms are intermittent or mild
So there may be an indication in the history, and more information can be obtained from physical examination. A doctor can perform a pelvic examination, which can help to identify any abnormalities or tenderness. Ultrasound is sometimes used to examine the organs in the pelvis. Sometimes cysts suggestive of endometriosis may be seen on ultrasound, but a normal ultrasound does not exclude it.
The real test for endometriosis is actually having a look. This is done via a laparoscope, and the technique.
Spots of endometriotic tissue may be seen inside the pelvis, where they should not be. There may be any amount—just a few patches, or the pelvis may be literally covered with the stuff. There might be cysts of it on the ovaries, or scarring and adhesions.
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