Endometriosis in adolescents.

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Medicine
• Adolescent Gynecology
• Surgical Diagnosis

Background:

• Endometriosis symptoms frequently begin in adolescence but diagnosis is often delayed.
• Adolescents with pelvic pain undergo laparoscopy for diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis.
• Delayed diagnosis impacts the patient's journey and treatment effectiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the experiences of adolescents diagnosed with endometriosis via laparoscopy for pelvic pain.
• To analyze symptoms, diagnostic timelines, healthcare encounters, and treatment outcomes.
• To identify factors influencing diagnosis and postoperative results in young patients.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 25 female patients aged ≤21 years diagnosed with endometriosis during laparoscopy.
• Data collected over an 8-year period, with 1-year postoperative follow-up.
• Analysis of symptoms, time to diagnosis, number/type of physicians consulted, disease stage, and treatment outcomes.

Main Results:

• Mean age at surgery was 17.2 years; common symptoms included dysmenorrhea, abnormal uterine bleeding, and gastrointestinal/genitourinary issues.
• Average time from symptom onset to diagnosis was 22.8 months, with a median of 3 physicians consulted.
• Most patients had Stage I disease, and 80% reported resolved or improved pain at 1 year post-surgery.

Conclusions:

• Expedited care through timely referral to experienced gynecologists is crucial for adolescents with endometriosis.
• Laparoscopic diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis in adolescents yield favorable outcomes.
• Adolescents with endometriosis benefit from appropriate hormonal and nonhormonal therapies post-diagnosis.