Endometriosis

Endometriosis is the presence of tissue, which should exist only inside the uterus (endometrial glands and endometrial stroma), at sites outside the uterus. This disease affects many women in the reproductive age group, and chronic pelvic pain associated with endometriosis is one of the most common symptom complexes that gynecologists are required to treat. Although its etiology has not been conclusively identified, it is generally believed to involve abnormalities in the immune system. It is unclear whether this is causal or simply a response to abnormal implants. Endometriosis is associated with painful periods (dysmenorrhea), painful intercourse (dyspareunia), noncyclical pelvic pain, and infertility. There are also a myriad of associated symptoms, especially those that involve the gastrointestinal tract. Chronic pelvic pain associated with endometriosis can be difficult to treat because of the large number of patients who have a relapse. The diagnosis of endometriosis can only be... Access this chapter Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout Purchases are for personal use only Suggested Reading Al-Azemi, M., Bernal, A. L., Steele, J., Gramsbergen, I., Barlow, D., & Kennedy, S. (2000). Ovarian response to repeated controlled stimulation in in-vitro fertilization cycles in patients with ovarian endometriosis. Human Reproduction, 15, 72–75. Bedaiwy, M. A., Falcone, T., Sharma, R. K., Goldberg, J. M., Attaran, M., Nelson, D. R., et al. (2002). Prediction of endometriosis with serum and peritoneal fluid markers: A prospective controlled trial. Human Reproduction, 17, 426–431. Jerby, B. L., Kessler, H., Falcone, T., & Milsom, J. W. (1999). Laparoscopic management of colorectal endometriosis. Surgical Endoscopy, 13, 1125–1128. Jones, K., & Sutton, C. (2000). Endometriomas: Fenestration or excision? Fertility and Sterility, 74, 846–848. Ling, F. W. (1999). Randomized controlled trial of depot leuprolide in patients with chronic pelvic pain and clinically suspected endometriosis. Pelvic Pain Study Group. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 93, 51–58. Lundorff, P., Hahlin, M., Kallfelt, B., Thorburn, J., & Lindblom, B. (1991). Adhesion formation after laparoscopic surgery in tubal pregnancy: A randomized trial versus laparotomy. Fertility and Sterility, 55, 911–915. Marcoux, S., Maheux, R., & Berube, S. (1997). Laparoscopic surgery in infertile women with minimal or mild endometriosis. Canadian Collaborative Group on Endometriosis. New England Journal of Medicine, 337, 217–222. Mol, B. W., Bayram, N., Lijmer, J. G., Wiegerinck, M. A., Bongers, M. Y., van der Veen, F., et al. (1998). The performance of CA-125 measurement in the detection of endometriosis: A meta-analysis. Fertility and Sterility, 70, 1101–1108. Nezhat, C., Nezhat, F., Nezhat, C. H., Nasserbakht, F., Rosati, M., & Seidman, D. S. (1996). Urinary tract endometriosis treated by laparoscopy. Fertility and Sterility, 66, 920–924. Nezhat, C. H., Seidman, D. S., Nezhat, F. R., & Nezhat, C. R. (1998). Long-term outcome of laparoscopic presacral neurectomy for the treatment of central pelvic pain attributed to endometriosis. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 91, 701–704. Redwine, D. B. (1999). Ovarian endometriosis: A marker for more extensive pelvic and intestinal disease. Fertility and Sterility, 72, 310–315. Singh, M., Goldberg, J., Falcone, T., Nelson, D., Pasqualotto, E., Attaran, M., et al. (2001). Superovulation and intrauterine insemination in cases of treated mild pelvic disease. Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics, 18, 26–29. Sutton, C. J., Ewen, S. P., Whitelaw, N., & Haines, P. (1994). Prospective, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial of laser laparoscopy in the treatment of pelvic pain associated with minimal, mild, and moderate endometriosis. Fertility and Sterility, 62, 696–700. Tulandi, T., & al-Took, S. (1998). Reproductive outcome after treatment of mild endometriosis with laparoscopic excision and electrocoagulation. Fertility and Sterility, 69, 229–231. Rights and permissions Copyright information © 2004 Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers About this entry Cite this entry Bedaiwy, M.A., Falcone, T. (2004). Endometriosis. In: Encyclopedia of Women’s Health. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-306-48113-0_149 Download citation DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-306-48113-0_149 Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA Print ISBN: 978-0-306-48073-7 Online ISBN: 978-0-306-48113-0 eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive Keywords These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.