Evaluation and management of women with endometriosis

Craig A Winkel
Obstetrics and gynecology · 2003 · vol. 102(2) , pp. 397–408 · doi:10.1016/s0029-7844(03)00474-5 · PMID:12907119 · W2013300414
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⚙ AI-generated summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-06 ⓘ

This review evaluates endometriosis, a condition causing pain or infertility in some women, and recommends first-line medical therapy over surgery due to potential complications.

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Abstract

Endometriosis is a condition that often leads to a variety of symptoms that range from pain complaints to infertility. Endometriosis is also found in women who are asymptomatic. The diagnosis of endometriosis can be made clinically with reliability similar to that of one made surgically. Medical treatment options are effective, as are surgical treatment options. Complications associated with surgery, however, push the balance in favor of medical therapy whenever possible. Based on the body of evidence available at present, women with endometriosis-related complaints should be treated with a first-line medical therapy. If that fails, a second-line medical therapy is warranted under most conditions. Laparoscopic surgery should be reserved for patients in whom second-line medical therapy has failed or is contraindicated by desire to conceive immediately or as soon as possible.

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Condition tags

endometriosisinfertility

MeSH descriptors

Endometriosis Adult CA-125 Antigen CA-125 Antigen Contraceptives, Oral Contraceptives, Oral Danazol Danazol Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Female Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Humans Hysterectomy Laparoscopy Medroxyprogesterone Acetate Medroxyprogesterone Acetate

Citation neighborhood

Papers in the corpus that this work cites (lower rings, blue) and that cite this one (upper rings, green). Dot size scales with the paper's in-corpus citation count — bigger dot = more influential within the endo/adeno field. Click a dot to open that paper. [ expand to 2 hops ] — adds papers reached through this work's immediate citers/citees. Heavier; up to 60 extra dots.

References (51)

Cited by (50)

Source provenance

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License: CC0 · commercial use OK