It's estimated that 10 to 20 percent of American women of childbearing age have endometriosis . If you're between the ages of 13 and 50 and experience pelvic pain, dull back pain during menstruation, or irregular or heavy bleeding, you may have endometriosis. It's one of the most common conditions in women who have chronic pelvic pain or who are unable to conceive.
Diagnosis begins with a complete physical exam by a gynecologist.
A diagnosis of endometriosis can be confirmed only by laparoscopy, a surgical procedure in which a laparoscope is inserted through a small incision in the abdomen. Laparoscopy helps the patient and her doctor make better-informed decisions about choosing medical or surgical treatment.