How is endometriosis diagnosed?
The medical history is an important part of making the diagnosis of endometriosis. Pain that has been most severe during menstruation and/or infertility, as well as the fact that usual menstrual pain treatment has not been sufficiently effective, are important indicators of endometriosis.
Endometriosis can rarely be detected during a gynaecological examination. The gynaecologist will therefore perform an ultrasound scan of the abdomen to look for endometriosis on the ovaries and rectum, and in some cases refer to an MRI scan.
It takes a trained eye to make the final diagnosis because many endometriosis infiltrates are small and can hide in many places in the abdominal cavity and around the organs.
For many years, the gold standard for an endometriosis diagnosis has been laparoscopic surgery. The surgery is performed with binoculars inserted just below the navel. Slim instruments are inserted through thin tubes above the abdomen.
If spots resembling endometriosis are found, the tissue is often removed immediately and analyzed in a laboratory. If it turns out to be endometriosis tissue, the diagnosis is certain and you're one important step closer to getting the right treatment.
However, it's not always necessary to perform a laparoscopy. Today, technical equipment such as ultrasound and MRI scans are sufficient for a definite diagnosis.
At the same time, there is a focus on starting medical treatment for endometriosis at an early stage - even without an endometrial biopsy. Treatment can be started as soon as endometriosis is suspected. This is to prevent endometriosis from developing and to avoid the need for surgery.
