Endometriosis Health Article

Expectations (prognosis)

How well surgery helps improve fertility depends on the severity of the endometriosis. Pregnancy rates after surgery in women previously considered to be infertile are approximately 75% for mild endometriosis, 50-60% for moderate cases, and 30-40% for severe cases.

Complications

Infertility may result from endometriosis, but not in every patient -- especially if the endometriosis is mild. Endometriosis has been known to come back even after a hysterectomy. Other complications are rare. In a few cases endometriosis implants may cause blockages of the gastrointestinal or urinary tracts.

Calling your health care provider

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if symptoms of endometriosis occur, or if back pain or other symptoms come back after treatment of endometriosis.

Screening for endometriosis should be considered if your mother or sister has been diagnosed with endometriosis or if you are unable to become pregnant after trying for 1 year.

Prevention

Birth control pills may help to prevent or slow down the development of the disease.

References

Lobo R. Endometriosis: Etiology, Pathology, Diagnosis, Management. In: Katz VL, Lentz GM, Lobo RA, Gershenson DM. Comprehensive Gynecology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2007: chap. 19.

Mounsey AL. Diagnosis and management of endometriosis. Am Fam Physician. Aug 2006; 74(4): 594-600.

Davis L, Kennedy S. Modern combined oral contraceptives for pain associated with endometriosis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2007; (3): CD001019.

L Speroff, M Fitz. Clinical Gynecologic Endocrinology and Infertility. 7th ed. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2004.

Hansen KA, Eyster KM. A review of current management of endometriosis in 2006: an evidence-based approach. S D Med. 2006 Apr;59(4):153-9.

Adamson GD, Pasta DJ. Surgical treatment of endometriosis-associated infertility: meta-analysis compared with survival analysis. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1994 Dec;171(6):1488-504.