What tests are done for endometriosis?

Written by Zhang Xiu Rong
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Updated on September 23, 2024
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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.

Other Voices

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Written by Sun Shan Shan
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Does endometriosis fear tiredness?

Firstly, when endometrial displacement occurs, the endometrial glandular tissue and stroma appear outside the uterine body, this condition is called endometriosis, also known as adenomyosis. Endometriosis can affect any part of the body, including the bladder, kidneys, ureters, mammary glands, thighs, etc., with the most common sites being the uterus, ovaries, and vagina. The primary manifestations of endometriosis include lower abdominal pain and painful menstruation, followed by infertility and pain after sexual intercourse, generally deep dyspareunia. In the presence of endometriosis, these symptoms suggest the need to avoid overexertion and spicy foods in daily life. Once endometriosis occurs, timely treatment is necessary.

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Written by Li Shun Hua
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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How is endometriosis treated?

Treatment methods for endometriosis include conservative treatment and surgical treatment. If the patient's symptoms are relatively mild, the dysmenorrhea is not very severe, and there is no occurrence of excessive menstruation or prolonged menstrual period, conservative treatment can be applied. Common conservative treatment methods include oral contraceptive pills, and a levonorgestrel-releasing system can be placed inside the uterine cavity. If the patient has reproductive demands and the symptoms are more severe, or if there is a chocolate cyst on both ovaries, surgical treatment can be performed, but the recurrence rate after surgery is also relatively high. (The use of medication should be under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Yue Hua
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Consequences of Endometriosis

The consequences of endometriosis primarily include abnormal menstruation and infertility, with about 50% of those affected experiencing infertility. The reasons for this stem from the abnormal pelvic structures caused by endometriosis, as well as extensive adhesions of the fallopian tubes and ovaries, and abnormal motility of the fallopian tubes, all of which lead to reduced functions in transporting sperm and eggs. Furthermore, changes in the microenvironment within the pelvis also lead to infertility. Abnormal menstruation is mainly characterized by an increased amount of menstrual flow and prolonged menstrual periods, which can easily lead to anemia in patients.

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Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
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Is it easy to get pregnant with endometriosis?

Endometriosis, which has a relatively high incidence among women, refers to the condition where the endometrial tissue is located outside the uterine cavity. This condition can easily lead to infertility. Although endometriosis is a benign disease, it exhibits characteristics similar to those of malignant diseases, primarily manifesting as local infiltration that causes adhesions and can disrupt the function of the fallopian tubes and ovaries. First, it can lead to the presence of chocolate cysts on the ovaries, which can affect the ovulation function of the ovaries. Second, it can sometimes cause adhesions in the fallopian tubes or pelvic adhesions, affecting the egg-pickup function of the fallopian tubes. This prevents sperm and eggs from fertilizing within the fallopian tubes. Even if fertilization occurs, the impaired function of the fallopian tubes may also lead to an increased risk of ectopic pregnancy.

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Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
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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.