How Endometriosis Is Diagnosed

For many women, simply having a diagnosis of endometriosis brings relief. It’s not unusual for a woman to suffer from 7 to 10 years before endometriosis is identified.

Our team is committed to not letting that happen. Our goal is to diagnose and address endometriosis at its earliest stage possible, before it evolves into a potentially chronic pain condition.

When we see you for a first visit, one of our gynecologic providers will evaluate your medical history and will conduct a complete physical examination that includes a pelvic exam. If diagnostic imaging (such as an ultrasound) is necessary, imaging technology is conveniently located right in our doctors’ offices.

Diagnostic Technology

The “gold standard” to diagnosis endometriosis is a laparoscopy. A laparoscopic exam is a minor surgical procedure in which a thin tube with a camera and a light (a laparoscope) is inserted into an incision in your abdomen. Our physicians use the laparoscope to see into the pelvic area and can often determine the locations, extent, and size of the endometrial growths.  A biopsy can be taken during this procedure to prove the presence of endometriosis. 

Other examinations that we may use to aid in the diagnosis of endometriosis include:

• Ultrasound – A diagnostic imaging technique that uses high-frequency sound waves to create an image of the internal organs.  This allows us to see the uterus, ovaries, and any cysts within the ovaries.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) – A noninvasive procedure that produces a two-dimensional view of an internal organ or structure and allows radiologists to see small details in the pelvic area

Multidisciplinary Approach

Our team takes a multidisciplinary approach to the care of each woman. This means we bring in experts from a wide range of related fields, such as urology and colorectal surgery, to share knowledge, opinions, and thoughts regarding the most effective treatment options.

We also have teams in pain management, behavioral medicine, nursing, and pelvic floor physical therapy to offer treatment for symptoms caused by endometriosis and by a related condition called adenomyosis. We work together with other specialists to treat associated conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, painful bladder syndrome (also known as interstitial cystitis), and myofascial pain.

If you have any questions about Endometriosis or Adenomyosis or would like to make an appointment, please contact us at 617-831-7525.