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Diagnosis of Endometriosis

Animation Movie AvailableRelated Media: Diagnostic Pelvic Laparoscopy

The doctor will ask you about your symptoms and health history. A pelvic exam will be done. This is often enough to suspect the problem.

Images will be taken of the pelvic organs. This can be done with an ultrasound taken from the outside of the belly. It may also be done with an ultrasound probe placed in the vagina.

Laparoscopy is needed to confirm the diagnosis. A small cut is made in the belly. A telescope is passed through it. It lets the doctor look for signs of endometrial tissue outside the womb. A biopsy of tissue may be taken. It will be tested for signs of endometriosis.

REFERENCES:

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). Practice bulletin no. 114: management of endometriosis. Obstet Gynecol. 2010 Jul;116(1):223-236, reaffirmed 2018.

Endometriosis. ACOG website. Available at: https://www.acog.org/Patients/FAQs/Endometriosis. Updated January 2019. Accessed January 14, 2020.

Endometriosis. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:https://www.dynamed.com/condition/endometriosis. Updated August 30, 2019. Accessed January 14, 2020.

Endometriosis. Office on Women's Health—US Health and Human Services website. Available at: https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/endometriosis. Updated April 1, 2019. Accessed January 14, 2020.

Levine EM, et al: Deep Infiltrating Endometriosis: Making the Diagnosis. J Diagn Med Sonogr 2019;35(4):1-3.

Last reviewed November 2019 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Beverly Siegal, MD, FACOG