Although endometriosis is typically diagnosed between the ages of 25 and 35, the problem probably begins about the time that regular menstruation begins. Adolescents may experience symptoms such as severe cramping or discomfort, however, they are frequently ignored or written off as normal. A woman who has a mother or sister with endometriosis, has a risk of developing endometriosis that is 6 times greater than that of the general population. Other risk factors include having a menstrual cycle lengths of 27 days or less, early onset of menstrual periods, and periods lasting 7 or more days. There is no proven prevention for endometriosis, however, some women with endometriosis who successfully become pregnant find that they are free of the disease afterwards.
Pregnancy also tends to delay the onset and progression of the disease in susceptible women.
In fact, some women with severe cases of endometriosis have no pain at all, while some women with only a few small adhesions have severe discomfort. There may be pain with uterine motion. The uterus may be fixed or retroverted. A laparoscopy is necessary for diagnosis. An exploratory laparotomy is rarely necessary.