Operative treatment of rectal endometriosis

27 patients with rectal endometriosis were operated upon in Turku University Central Hospital in 1967-1976. The main symptom was defecation pain especially during menstruation. Eighteen patients had had previous surgery for endometriosis of the pelvic area. A palpable tumor was found on gynaecological examination in every patient. The tumors did not grow through the rectal wall. Three kinds of operative procedures were applied (a simple excision method, a so called "window" operation, and resection of rectum) and the results were good.