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.

Tests that are done to diagnose endometriosis include:

• Pelvic exam
• Transvaginal ultrasound
• Pelvic laparoscopy

Images

Endometriosis

Abnormal menstrual periods

Pelvic laparoscopy

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Endometriosis Overview

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Endometriosis Treatment

Review Date: 09/02/2009
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.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)