Endometriosis Clinical Manifestations

Written by Zhang Xiu Rong
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Updated on December 03, 2024
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Endometriosis is clinically most evident in dysmenorrhea, which tends to worsen progressively. The clinical presentation varies depending on where the endometrial tissue is located. If the tissue is located on the ovaries, it can form ovarian chocolate cysts. Generally, chocolate cysts can affect fertility, leading to anovulation and the appearance of ovarian chocolate-like cysts. Treatment typically involves surgical intervention, which is characterized by a high risk of recurrence after surgery. If there is no immediate plan for pregnancy, there is also a possibility of recurrence. Additionally, if endometriosis involves the uterus, it can lead to a uniformly enlarged uterus and uneven uterine wall echoes, resulting in adenomyosis. Therefore, the most typical clinical manifestation of endometriosis is progressively worsening dysmenorrhea.

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Written by Zhang Lu
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What to do about dysmenorrhea caused by endometriosis?

There are two types of dysmenorrhea, primary dysmenorrhea and secondary dysmenorrhea. An important cause of secondary dysmenorrhea is endometriosis. The dysmenorrhea caused by endometriosis comes from specific diseases, and the interventions include the following aspects: First, symptomatic treatment should be conducted first, which means using pain relief medication to alleviate the pain. In clinical practice, various pain relief medications can be used for dysmenorrhea caused by endometriosis. Second, treatment should be aimed at the cause of the dysmenorrhea. Treatment for endometriosis currently includes both medicinal and surgical approaches. If surgical treatment is chosen, it can involve the removal of ectopic cysts or pelvic ectopic cysts, among other conditions; if medicinal treatment is chosen, methods such as pseudopregnancy or artificial menopause can be used.

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Written by Hou Jie
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Does endometriosis require the removal of the uterus?

Endometrial displacement, depending on the specific location of the displacement, calls for different treatments. When the endometrial glands and stroma invade the myometrium, it is called adenomyosis. Treatment is based on the patient's symptoms, age, and fertility requirements. If there are fertility requirements, or the patient is near menopause, medicinal treatment can be tried to alleviate symptoms. For younger patients with adenomyosis who have reproductive needs, focal excision surgery can be considered. For patients with severe symptoms, who either have no reproductive needs or for whom medicinal treatment is ineffective, a total hysterectomy may be considered.

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Written by Shen Li Wen
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Endometriosis has several manifestations.

When women suffer from endometriosis, the clinical manifestations can vary depending on the specific location of the ectopic endometrial tissue, but there are some commonalities. A major symptom is pain related to menstruation, such as dysmenorrhea. For example, ovarian chocolate cysts can cause progressively worsening dysmenorrhea and affect the amount of menstrual flow; issues like increased menstrual volume and prolonged menstrual periods can also occur, and some women may experience pain during intercourse. Endometriosis often leads to the occurrence of pelvic adhesions, so some women may also experience chronic pelvic pain. When endometrial tissue is located on the ovaries, it can affect normal ovulation and hormone secretion, leading to irregular menstrual cycles and infertility.

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Written by Yue Hua
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Does endometriosis need treatment?

Whether or not endometriosis requires treatment entirely depends on the patient's symptoms. If it is a mild case of endometriosis without severe symptoms, the patient can undergo regular follow-up visits. However, if the patient experiences severe abdominal pain during menstruation, it depends on whether the patient has reproductive demands. If there are reproductive demands, medication can be administered; clinically, high-dose progestogens are commonly used to prevent the ectopic endometrial tissue from continuing to grow. If the patient has no desire for childbirth and suffers from severe pain, a hysterectomy and bilateral adnexectomy may be performed.

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Written by Zhang Xiu Rong
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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What tests are done for endometriosis?

Endometriosis is generally diagnosed through color ultrasound and CA-125 blood tests. If the endometrial tissue is located within the uterine muscle, it forms adenomyosis, at which point the ultrasound will show an enlarged uterus and uneven muscle wall echogenicity. Blood tests for the tumor marker CA-125, if elevated above the normal level of 35, generally indicate adenomyosis. If the endometrial tissue is located in the ovaries, it can form ovarian chocolate cysts, which are visible on the ultrasound as ovarian sections and echoes, with typical ultrasound reports indicating ovarian chocolate cysts. Therefore, routine examinations for endometriosis typically include color ultrasound and blood tests, which can confirm the diagnosis.