Risk Factors Women of reproductive age, women with shorter than 27 day cycles, longer flow-greater than 1 week, women who experience menarche at an early age, and those women with relatives with this disorder. Symptoms Dysmenorrhea, menorrhagia, dyspareunia, low back pain, painful bowel movements, infertility, abdominal pain, retroverted uterus, and enlarged or cystic ovaries. Diagnosis Laparoscopy or laparotomy is the only means of establishing a definitive diagnosis. Treatment Electrocautery, excision, laser vaporization, lysis of adhesions and excisions of small endometriomas. Leuprolide acetate 3.75 mg IM every month for 6 months.
Oral contraceptives provide a continuous low level of hormone which relieves the pelvic pain.
Ibuprofen, naproxen, or aspirin may alleviate some of the inflammatory response and reduce pain. Some individuals will require stronger analgesics. Unfortunately medical therapy cannot correct the adhesions, or anatomic distortion caused by endometriosis. Your nurse practitioner, physician's assistant or physician can recommend an appropriate treatment plan. The primary goal of hormonal therapy is to induce a state of pseudopregnancy or pseudomenopause resulting in an endocrine environment that does not stimulate growth of endometriotic lesions.