Endometriosis: A Woman's Guide to Management

Guide to endometriosis symptoms, diagnosis, treatment options, and quality of life management.

10 min readLast updated: 2026-02-17

Quick Facts

Prevalence
Affects 10% of reproductive-age women
Cause
Tissue similar to uterine lining grows outside uterus
ICD-10
N80

Overview: Understanding Endometriosis

Endometriosis occurs when tissue resembling the uterine lining grows outside the uterus, typically in the pelvic cavity on ovaries, fallopian tubes, and pelvic peritoneum. This mislocated tissue responds to hormonal changes, causing inflammation, pain, and potential infertility .

Affecting approximately 1 in 10 women of reproductive age, endometriosis causes significant physical and emotional burden. Many women experience years of symptoms before diagnosis.

Key Information
Classic presentation includes cyclic pelvic pain, heavy menstrual bleeding, and subfertility. Symptoms severity doesn't correlate with disease extent. Some women have minimal symptoms despite widespread disease, while others have severe symptoms with limited involvement.

Symptoms

Dysmenorrhea (painful periods) is most common, often worsening over time. Chronic pelvic pain, pain during sexual intercourse, and pain with bowel movements or urination occur. Infertility affects up to 40% of women with endometriosis.

Diagnosis Approach

Provisional diagnosis is clinical, based on symptom pattern. Pelvic ultrasound or MRI may identify endometriomas (cysts containing endometrial tissue). Definitive diagnosis requires laparoscopic visualization and biopsy.

Warning
Endometriosis is a chronic condition requiring long-term management. Emotional support and pain management strategies are crucial components of comprehensive care.
Clinical Note
Initial treatment emphasizes pain management and often begins with NSAIDs for symptom relief . Hormonal therapies suppress ovulation and reduce lesion activity. Surgical options remove visible lesions or perform hysterectomy in severe cases. Multidisciplinary care addressing physical, emotional, and fertility concerns optimizes outcomes.

Living with Endometriosis

Long-term management combines medical treatment, pain management strategies, lifestyle modifications, and psychological support. Many women benefit from pelvic floor physical therapy, stress reduction, and counseling.

Sources

  1. [1]Garcia-Solares J et al.. "Endometriosis." Fertility and Sterility, 2018.
  2. [2]Zhai J et al.. "Endometriosis: pathogenesis and treatment." Nature Reviews Urology, 2020.

Medically reviewed by

Medical Review Team, Obstetrics and Gynecology

Last updated: 2026-02-17Sources: 2

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