Symptoms & Signs
Pain is the main symptom for women with endometriosis. This can include:
- Painful periods
- Pain in the lower abdomen or pelvic cramps that can be felt for a week or two before menstruation
- Pain in the lower abdomen felt during menstruation (the pain and cramps may be steady and dull or severe)
- Pain during or following sexual intercourse
- Pain with bowel movements
- Pelvic or low back pain that may occur at any time during the menstrual cycle
Note: Often there are no symptoms. In fact, some women with severe cases of endometriosis have no pain at all, whereas some women with mild endometriosis have severe pain.
Diagnosis & Tests
Tests that are done to diagnose endometriosis include:
- Pelvic exam
- Transvaginal ultrasound
- Pelvic laparoscopy
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Endometriosis : Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
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Endometriosis : Symptoms & Signs, Diagnosis & Tests
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Endometriosis : Treatment
Review Date : 9/2/2009
Reviewed By : Susan Storck, MD, FACOG, Chief, Eastside Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound, Redmond, Washington; Clinical Teaching Faculty, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
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