Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain for the Gastroenterologist
Sukhbir S Singh1, Stacey A Missmer2, Frank F Tu3
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Ottawa Hospital, University of Ottawa, Women's Health Center, 7th Floor, Riverside Campus, 1967 Riverside Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 7W9, Canada.
Abstract:
Endometriosis, affecting 5-10% of reproductive-age women, is a common contributor to dysmenorrhea and chronic pelvic pain. Diagnosis requires laparoscopic tissue biopsy, but careful pelvic examination, and/or imaging with either ultrasound or MRI, may identify patients who should receive empiric first-line therapy. The presence of dyschezia, particularly with cyclical exacerbation, should raise suspicion for bowel or rectovaginal septum involvement, and a greater need for surgical management. Treatment of dysmenorrhea includes hormonal suppression of the menstrual cycle, and/or analgesics; more severe cases with strong pain and disability may require earlier surgical intervention to excise disease while preserving fertility desires.
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