Risk factors for tubal infertility among infertile and fertile women

Data regarding previous pelvic inflammation, abdominal surgery, endometriosis, obstetrical anamnesis, usage of IUD, occurrence of abdominal pain, vaginal discharge and metrorrhagia were obtained from 120 women with tubal infertility and compared to similar data from 126 pregnant women. Previous abdominal surgery, especially pelvic surgery was the most frequent risk factor present in 59% of the infertile women followed by pelvic inflammation (42%) and endometriosis (10%). In 23% of the infertile women there was no history of abdominal surgery, inflammation or endometriosis. Abdominal surgery, inflammation, ectopic pregnancy, salpingectomy and ovarian resection were significantly more frequent among the women with tubal infertility than among the pregnant women. Finally, there was no significant difference in the occurrence of appendectomy, IUD usage, induced or spontaneous abortion.     

Prevalence of Endometriosis and Peritoneal Pockets in Women with Infertility and/or Pelvic Pain

ObjectiveTo evaluate the prevalence of endometriosis and peritoneal pockets and to analyze whether these pockets are associated with pain.MethodsAnalysis of prospectively registered data of all women undergoing laparoscopy for infertility or pelvic pain between 1988 and 2011 at KU Leuven University Hospital.ResultsOf 4497 women, 191 had 238 pockets, with a prevalence of 4.7% in women with infertility only, 4.9% in women with infertility and pelvic pain, and 3.5% in women with pelvic pain only (P = 0.045 for all infertility vs. pelvic pain only). Prevalence did not vary by age. Pockets were associated with endometriosis (P < 0.0001), which was found in 77% of women with pockets. Among women with infertility only, the prevalence of endometriosis was higher in women with pockets (P = 0.0001) than in women without. The prevalence of endometriosis was similar in women with infertility and pelvic pain or pelvic pain only. Pelvic pain as an indication for surgery was associated simultaneously (through logistic regression) with endometriosis (P < 0.0001) and pockets (P = 0.040). Pelvic pain severity was associated simultaneously with pockets (P = 0.0026) and the severity of subtle (P = 0.001), typical (P = 0.030), cystic ovarian (P = 0.051), and deep endometriosis (P < 0.0001). Pelvic pain severity was not associated with endometriosis in the pockets or the diameter or location of pockets.ConclusionsThe prevalence of pockets was low, at between 3.5% and 5%. Women with infertility only and pockets had more endometriosis than women without. Severe pelvic pain and pelvic pain as an indication for surgery were associated with the presence of pockets as well as the presence and severity of endometriosis.     

Hysterectomy with or without unilateral oophorectomy and risk of ovarian cancer

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the role of hysterectomy, performed on benign indications, on the risk of developing ovarian cancer. METHODS: Multicenter case-control study conducted in four Italian areas. Cases were 1031 women with epithelial ovarian cancer. Controls were 2411 women admitted to the same network of hospitals for a wide spectrum of acute non-neoplastic conditions, unrelated to known risk factors for ovarian cancer. RESULTS: Compared to women with intact uterus and ovaries, the multivariate odds ratios (OR) was 0.6 (95% confidence interval 0.4-0.9) for women who reported hysterectomy. The OR was 0.5 > or =15 years after surgery. The OR was similar for women who had had pelvic surgery before age 45 and for those who had surgery later. No appreciable heterogeneity emerged across strata of parity and family history of ovarian/breast cancer. CONCLUSION: Women who had undergone hysterectomy had a long-term reduced risk of epithelial ovarian cancer.     

青春期子宫内膜异位症43例临床分析

目的探讨青春期子宫内膜异位症的临床特征、诊断和治疗方法。方法对1990～2003年中山大学附属第一、二、三医院及广东省人民医院收治的43例青春期子宫内膜异位症患者的临床资料进行回顾性分析。结果青春期子宫内膜异位症患者诊断时,距离初潮年龄平均间隔时间为4．6年,发病距离就诊时间平均为1年。就诊时的主要症状为盆腔包块18例,占42％;痛经15例,占35％;慢性腹痛10例,占23％;急性腹痛4例,占9％。根据1985年美国生育协会修订的子宫内膜异位症分期(ASF-r)标准,23例(53％)为Ⅲ期,8例(19％)为Ⅰ期,3例(7％)为Ⅱ期,9例(21％)为Ⅳ期。其中9例伴有生殖道畸形,占21％;12例(28％)患者进行了腹腔镜诊断和治疗。结论青春期子宫内膜异位症多发生于初潮后的5年内,主要症状为盆腔包块和痛经。青春期子宫内膜异位症患者的临床症状与成年人相似,腹腔镜是子宫内膜异位症的确诊手段,手术仍是其主要治疗手段。     

Reproductive factors and risk of endometrial cancer

The role of reproductive factors in endometrial cancer risk has been analyzed in a case-control study conducted since 1983 in the greater Milan area on 568 women (cases) with histologically confirmed endometrial cancer and 1925 women (controls) who were admitted for acute, nonmalignant, hormonal, gynecologic conditions to hospitals that cover a comparable catchment area. Compared with nulliparous women, parous women had a 30% lower risk of endometrial cancer, but there was no evidence of a decline in risk with increasing number of births. The risk of the disease decreased with number of spontaneous or induced abortions; the multivariate relative risk estimates were, compared respectively with no spontaneous or induced abortions, 0.5 for women with two or more spontaneous abortions and 0.3 for women with two or more induced abortions; both trends in risk were statistically significant. When parous women only were considered, no association emerged between endometrial cancer and age at first birth, but the risk decreased with increasing age at last birth: compared with women whose last birth occurred before age 25, the relative risk was 0.5 for women who were greater than or equal to 35 years old at last birth, and the multivariate trend in risk was statistically significant. For most of the reproductive factors that were considered, the risk estimates tended to be greater at younger age or among premenopausal women and to flatten off in subsequent strata of age. An association between endometrial cancer and age at first birth was observed in women who were less than or equal to 49 years old, but not in older groups. The observation that later age at last birth as well as later first birth in younger women decreases the risk of endometrial cancer suggests a short-term protective effect of pregnancy. This finding is consistent with a late-stage (promotional) effect of reproductive factors on endometrial carcinogenesis.     

Menstrual and reproductive factors and the risk of myocardial infarction in women under fifty-five years of age

The relationship between menstrual and reproductive factors and subsequent risk of coronary heart disease was investigated in a hospital-based case-control study of 202 women with acute myocardial infarction and 374 control subjects admitted for a wide spectrum of acute conditions unrelated to any of the established risk factors for ischemic heart disease. No consistent association was observed with age at menarche or menopausal status, but women with a lifelong irregular menstrual cycle pattern were at significantly elevated risk of myocardial infarction (relative risk = 1.8, 95% confidence interval = 1.1 to 2.9). No clear trend in risk was evident with the number of livebirths, miscarriages, or induced abortions. However, women whose first pregnancy or livebirth occurred before age 20 years showed elevated risks of subsequent myocardial infarction compared with nulliparous ones (relative risks = 2.3; 95% confidence interval = 1.1 to 4.9), and there was a significant trend of increasing risk with earlier first birth. These associations were evident in both younger and middle-age women and were not explained by allowance for several identified potential confounding factors.     

Clinical and quality-of-life outcomes after fertility-sparing laparoscopic surgery with bowel resection for severe endometriosis

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To describe the effect of fertility-sparing laparoscopic excision of endometriosis and bowel resection on clinical and quality-of-life outcomes. DESIGN: Prospective observational cohort study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2). SETTING: Australian tertiary referral center for the surgical treatment of endometriosis. PATIENTS: Seven consecutive patients with known endometriosis involving the bowel. INTERVENTION: Laparoscopic resection of all endometriosis, including laparoscopic bowel resection with end-to-end anastomosis with or without temporary ileostomy. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Preoperative and 12-month postoperative data were collected by use of visual analogue scores for dysmenorrhea, nonmenstrual pelvic pain, dyspareunia, and dyschezia. Validated research tools (SF12, EuroQOL, and Sexual Activity Questionnaire) also assessed quality of life. Reduction in median pain scores at baseline was demonstrated and at 12 months after operation for dysmenorrhea 71 (interquartile range 43-85) versus 5 (0-10); p=.028, nonmenstrual pelvic pain 74 (48-85) versus 11 (0-18); p=.046, dyspareunia 66 (0-98) versus 5 (0-8); p=.080, and dyschezia 48 (20-64) versus 20 (0-40); p=.173. All measures of quality of life were improved at 12 months after surgery, although not reaching statistical significance because of the small sample size. All three women wishing to conceive after operation have been successful, resulting in three live births at term. There were few complications associated with this surgery. CONCLUSION: Fertility-sparing laparoscopic excision of endometriosis with bowel resection results in improvements in all aspects of pain and quality of life. Results appear to parallel published data for conservative resection of endometriosis not involving bowel. For women with severe endometriosis involving bowel, this surgical treatment provides a viable alternative to pelvic clearance and successfully maintains fertility.     

Risk factors for ovarian cancer in central Italy

OBJECTIVE: We conducted a case-control study to analyze risk factors for ovarian cancer. METHODS: Cases included 440 women (age range 13-80 years, median 54) with a histologically confirmed diagnosis of epithelial ovarian cancer who were admitted to the Gynecological Oncological Department of Gynecologic Oncology at the Catholic University Hospital in Rome, Italy. Controls were women admitted to the same hospital where cases were identified for acute nongynecological, nonhormonal, and nonneoplastic conditions. A total of 868 control women (age range 19-80 years, median 55) were interviewed. RESULTS: In comparison with ever married women, the multivariate odds ratios (OR) of ovarian cancers was 2.0 (95% confidence interval, CI 1.3-3.2) for never married women. Cases and controls were similar as regards educational status and body mass index. No clear relation emerged between ovarian cancer and age at menarche, menopausal status, and age at menopause. In comparison with nulliparae, the estimated ORs were 0.8, 0.9, and 0.7, respectively, in women reporting one, two, or three births. Women reporting two or more induced abortions were at decreased risk of ovarian cancer (OR 0.5, 95% CI 0.3-1.0). In comparison with women reporting their first birth before 20 years of age, the multivariate ORs were 1.8, 2.0, and 2.8, respectively, for women reporting their first birth at age 20-24, 25-30, and >/=31 (chi(2) trend = 10.1). Breast-feeding for more than 1 year was associated with an OR of 0.5 (95% CI, 0.4-0.8). Forty-two (9.5%) cases and 164 (18.9%) controls reported ever oral contraceptive use: in comparison with never users, the multivariate OR was 0.4 (95% CI 0.3-0.6) for ever users, and the risk decreased with duration of use. The OR for ovarian cancer was 2.9 (95% CI, 1.5-5.8) for women with a family history of the disease. CONCLUSION: This study, conducted on a relatively low-risk population, confirms the role of oral contraceptive on ovarian cancer risk and the direct association with family history of ovarian cancer. It also indicates that a later age at first birth is directly, and induced abortion and breast-feeding are inversely, related to the risk of the disease.     

195例青春期盆腔子宫内膜异位症临床病例分析

目的:分析青春期盆腔子宫内膜异位症(EMs)患者的临床资料,探讨早期发现、早期治疗EMs的重要性。方法:收集我院1999年3月至2015年8月经手术确诊的195例青春期盆腔EMs患者的临床资料,按r-AFS不同分期(I、II期和III、IV期)、有无梗阻性生殖道畸形、畸形组内异症严重程度分组,回顾分析各组的平均年龄、初潮年龄、痛经、BMI、延迟诊断时间、彩超诊断准确性及误诊情况等。结果:III、IV期组患者的平均年龄、延迟诊断时间大于I、II期组,痛经发生率及彩超诊断准确率高于I、II期组,合并生殖道畸形概率低于I、II期组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。生殖道畸形组患者的平均年龄、延迟诊断时间小于无畸形组,痛经发生率、彩超诊断准确率、重度内异症比例低于无畸形组,误诊率高于无畸形组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:盆腔EMs是青春期女性的一种严重进展性疾病,早期发现、诊断及治疗是延缓疾病进展、保护青春期女性生育能力的重要途径。     

Urine vascular endothelial growth factor-A is not a useful marker for endometriosis

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether urine VEGF is elevated in women with endometriosis. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. SETTING: Tertiary care government and private hospitals. PATIENT(S): During laparoscopy for pelvic pain or infertility, urine was collected and possible endometriosis lesions were excised. Of 62 women, 40 had histology-proven endometriosis and 22 had no histological proof of the disease. INTERVENTION: None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Urine VEGF-A(121, 165) was measured and compared in women with and without biopsy-proven endometriosis. RESULT(S): Urine VEGF levels corrected for creatinine excretion were similar in women with (83.6 +/- 11.3 pg/mg Cr) and without (88.5 +/- 10.4 pg/mg Cr) endometriosis (P =.77). The frequency distribution of urine VEGF measurements for women with and without endometriosis was similar. No significant difference was noted in urine VEGF levels when comparing endometriosis stages or in those with endometriomas compared to controls. Urine VEGF did not vary significantly over the menstrual cycle or between groups by cycle phase. No cutoff point discriminated individuals with and without the condition. CONCLUSION(S): It is unlikely that urine VEGF-A(121, 165), as measured in this study, will be a useful non-invasive marker for endometriosis.     

The prevalence of endometriosis among African-American and African-indigenous women

Endometriosis is gynaecological disorder, characterized by the growth of endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity. It is the most common cause of pelvic pain and occurs in 20-25% of women with infertility. Although Sampson first described endometriosis in 1927, studies on the prevalence of endometriosis among African women are still lacking. The current thinking is that endometriosis rarely affects women from the African origin. However, in African-American women in the USA, endometriosis is one of the commonest indications for major gynaecological surgery and hysterectomy, and is associated with long hospital stay and high hospital charges. There is also some evidence that endometriosis is more commonly found in African-American patients from private practice than in African-American patients treated in public hospitals. The prevalence of endometriosis in African-indigenous women with infertility seems low, possibly due to a different life style (early pregnancy, increased risk for PID and blocked Fallopian tubes) and due to lack of laparascopic facilities and specific training of African gynecologists to diagnose ascites caused by endometriosis appear to be more frequently observed in African-indigenous of African-American women than in women with other ethnic backgrounds.     

The risk-of-malignancy index to evaluate potential ovarian cancers in local hospitals

OBJECTIVE: To assess the risk-of-malignancy index (a scoring system based on menopausal status, ultrasound features, and serum CA 125) at district hospitals for referral of women with suspected malignant pelvic masses for primary surgery at a central gynecologic oncology unit. METHODS: All seven hospitals in Health Region IV, Norway, agreed to refer women with pelvic masses and risk-of-malignancy indices of 200 or more for centralized primary surgery. In total, 365 women 30 years of age or older, admitted consecutively at the local hospitals, were enrolled in the study from February 1, 1995, to January 31, 1997. RESULTS: Compliance with the study was satisfactory; 84% (65 of 77) of women with risk-of-malignancy indices of at least 200 were referred for centralized primary surgery. Sensitivity and specificity to malignancy were 71% and 92%, respectively, which is in agreement with previous validation of the risk-of-malignancy index in teaching hospital settings. False negatives were due mainly to stage Ia (18 of 24) ovarian cancer, whereas 27 of 28 stage II-IV ovarian cancer cases were identified correctly. CONCLUSION: The risk-of-malignancy index identified women with malignant pelvic masses efficiently. Our study showed the risk-of-malignancy index strategy in a practical setting to be able to centralize primary surgery for advanced ovarian cancer from local hospitals to a subspecialty unit. We recommend the risk-of-malignancy index for detection of patients with advanced ovarian cancer for centralized primary surgery.     

Is incidental appendectomy necessary in women with ovarian endometrioma?

BACKGROUND: Several studies reported that pathology of the appendix is frequently detected alongside endometriosis, especially with chronic pelvic pain. Furthermore, ovarian endometriosis is a marker of more extensive pelvic and intestinal disease. AIMS: To evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of incidental appendectomy in laparoscopic surgical treatment for ovarian endometrioma. METHODS: One hundred and six women with ovarian endometrioma underwent laparoscopic surgery including laparoscopic appendectomy. Clinicopathological data were collected and analysed. RESULTS: The main symptoms consisted of lower abdominal pain in 51 (48.1%) women, dysmenorrhoea in 23 (21.7%), left lower quadrant pain in 6 (5.7%), right lower quadrant pain in nine (8.5%), chronic pelvic pain in five (4.7%), and others in 12 (11.3%). Only three (3.3%) of the 106 women had abnormal findings on gross inspection during laparoscopic surgery: two women with endometriotic spots on the surface of their appendixes, and one with peri-appendiceal inflammation with severe adhesions. Of the 106 resected appendixes, 37 (34.9%) had histopathologically confirmed pathology including lymphoid hyperplasia in 12 (11.3%), endometriosis in 14 (13.2%), peri-appendicitis and serositis in five (4.7%), carcinoid tumour in three (2.8%), and others in three (2.8%). CONCLUSIONS: In all surgical treatments for ovarian endometrioma, surgeons need to preoperatively inform the patients of the fact that appendiceal pathology including endometriosis is found frequently regardless of concurrent symptoms or gross finding of the appendix. Furthermore, surgeons should take into account the possibility of appendiceal pathology during operation.     

Increased rate of endometriosis and spontaneous abortion in an in vitro fertilization program: no correlation with epidemiological factors.

BACKGROUND: There are conflicting data concerning endometriosis and spontaneous abortion (SAB). The aim of the present study was to evaluate if there was any association between endometriosis and SAB. Moreover, we investigated risk factors in women with endometriosis and SAB. METHODS: The medical files of 457 married women with endometriosis and 200 infertile women without endometriosis were studied retrospectively. All cases were diagnosed by laparoscopy. Data concerning demographic variables and menstrual characteristics were recorded from 226 women with endometriosis, which were divided into two groups. Group 1 included 126 cases with endometriosis and SAB, and Group 2 comprised 100 parous women with endometriosis and without SAB. Statistical comparisons between groups were made using the chi(2) test and odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS: The proportion of SAB was significantly higher in women with endometriosis than in infertile women without endometriosis (126/457 (27.6%) vs. 36/200 (18.0% ); OR = 1.7, 95% CI 1.1 = 2.6; p = 0.01). The frequency of nulligravid women was significantly higher in women with endometriosis than in the control group (OR = 1.9, 95% CI 1.4 - 2.81; p = 0.001). Mean age, age at onset of endometriosis, race, height, weight, body mass index, medical history of allergies, and family histories of endometriosis and cancer were similar in women with endometriosis and SAB and in parous women with endometriosis but without SAB. Moreover, the two groups were similar in age at menarche, length of cycle, duration and amount of flow, and the severity of disease. The incidence of infertility was significantly higher in women with SAB (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: These data suggest but do not prove that the risk of SAB is increased in women with endometriosis. The epidemiological risk factors of endometriosis are not associated with an increase in the abortion rate.     

Endometriosis in women at interval sterilization

The prevalence of endometriosis was investigated in 108 Norwegian women admitted for interval tubal sterilization. The mean age of the patients was 37 years. Endometriosis was detected in 19 (18%) of the women. About one-half of these had no symptoms from the disease. A positive correlation was found between a retroversion of the uterus and endometriosis. The women with endometriosis showed a longer period of uninterrupted menstrual cycles prior to the time of sterilization, when compared with the controls (89 unaffected women). Sisters and mothers of patients with endometriosis displayed a higher frequency of benign gynecological disorders than the corresponding relatives of the control group. The prevalence of endometriosis appeared to be independent of the following clinical parameters: onset of menarche, age at first pregnancy, number of pregnancies, previous use of hormonal contraceptives or IUD, and actual age at the time of sterilization.     

Endometriosis: Epidemiology,Diagnosis and Clinical Management

Purpose of Review

Endometriosis is a disease of adolescents and reproductive-aged women characterized by the presence of endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity and commonly associated with chronic pelvic pain and infertility. Here we review the epidemiology of endometriosis as well as potential biomarkers for detection and with the goal of highlighting risk factors that could be used in combination with biomarkers to identify and treat women with endometriosis earlier.

Recent Findings

Early age at menarche, shorter menstrual length, and taller height are associated with a higher risk of endometriosis while parity, higher body mass index (BMI), and smoking are associated with decreased risk. Endometriosis often presents as infertility or continued pelvic pain despite treatment with analgesics and cyclic oral contraceptive pills.

Summary

Despite a range of symptoms, diagnosis of endometriosis is often delayed due to lack of non-invasive, definitive, and consistent biomarkers for the diagnosis of endometriosis. Hormone therapy and analgesics are used for treatment of symptomatic endometriosis. However, the efficacy of these treatments is limited as endometriosis often recurs. In this review, we describe potential diagnostic biomarkers and risk factors that may be used as early non-invasive in vitro tools for identification of endometriosis to minimize diagnostic delay and improve reproductive health of patients.

     

A double-blind randomised controlled trial of laparoscopic uterine nerve ablation for women with chronic pelvic pain

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of laparoscopic uterine nerve ablation (LUNA) for chronic pelvic pain in women with endometriosis and women with no laparoscopic evidence of endometriosis. DESIGN: A prospective double-blind randomised controlled trial (RCT). SETTING: Single-centre, secondary-level gynaecology outpatient service and tertiary-level pelvic pain and endometriosis outpatient service in Auckland, New Zealand. POPULATION: One hundred and twenty-three women undergoing laparoscopy for investigation and management of chronic pelvic pain, 56 with no laparoscopic evidence of endometriosis and 67 with endometriosis. METHODS: Women were randomised from the two populations, firstly those with no evidence of endometriosis and secondly those undergoing laparoscopic surgical treatment for endometriosis, to receive LUNA or no LUNA. Participant and assessor blinding was employed. Follow up for pain outcomes was undertaken at 24 hours, 3 months and 12 months. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Changes in non-menstrual pelvic pain, dysmenorrhoea, deep dyspareunia and dyschezia were assessed primarily by whether there was a decrease in visual analogue score for these types of pain of 50% or more from baseline and additionally whether there was a significantly different change in median visual analogue score. The numbers requiring further surgery or starting a new medical treatment for pelvic pain and complications were also measured. RESULTS: There was a significant reduction in dysmenorrhoea at 12 month follow up in women with chronic pelvic pain in the absence of endometriosis who underwent LUNA (median change in visual analogue scale (VAS) from baseline -4.8 versus-0.8 (P= 0.039), 42.1%versus 14.3% experiencing a successful treatment defined as a 50% or greater reduction in visual analogue pain scale for dysmenorrhoea (P= 0.045). There was no significant difference in non-menstrual pelvic pain, deep dyspareunia or dyschezia in women with no endometriosis undergoing LUNA versus no LUNA. The addition of LUNA to laparoscopic surgical treatment of endometriosis was not associated with a significant difference in any pain outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: LUNA is effective for dysmenorrhoea in the absence of endometriosis, although there is no evidence of effectiveness of LUNA for non-dysmenorrhoeic chronic pelvic pain or for any type of chronic pelvic pain related to endometriosis.     

Oral contraceptive use and risk of endometriosis. Italian Endometriosis Study Group.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the association between use of oral contraception and risk of pelvic endometriosis. DESIGN: We compared use of oral contraception in women with and without endometriosis. PARTICIPANTS: Eligible for the study were women with primary or secondary infertility (n = 393) or chronic pelvic pain (n = 424), requiring laparoscopy, consecutively observed between September 1995 and January 1996 in 15 obstetrics and gynaecology departments in Italy. RESULTS: Out of the 817 women included in the study, 345 had a diagnosis of endometriosis; 164 (47.5%) women with endometriosis and 139 (29.4%) without the disease reported ever using oral contraception. In comparison with never users the estimated odds ratios (OR) of endometriosis were 1.8 (95% CI 1.0-3.3) in current users and 1.6 (95% CI 1.1-2.4) in ex-users. No clear relation emerged between duration of oral contraceptive use and risk of endometriosis. In comparison with never users, the OR was 1.8 (95% CI 1.1-3.0) for women reporting their last use of oral contraception < 5 years before interview and 1.5 (95% CI 0.9-2.5) for those reporting their last use > or = 5 years before interview. CONCLUSIONS: The study suggests that oral contraception is associated with an increased risk of endometriosis but this finding is based on a selected population and cannot generalised to all women with endometriosis.     

Relation between pain symptoms and the anatomic location of deep infiltrating endometriosis

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether specific types of pelvic pain are correlated with the anatomic locations of deeply infiltrating endometriosis (DIE). DESIGN: Retrospective data analysis. SETTING: University tertiary referral center. PATIENT(S): Two hundred and twenty-five women with pelvic pain symptoms and DIE. INTERVENTION(S): During surgery, we recorded the anatomic locations of DIE implants and associated endometriosis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): We studied the incidence of pelvic pain symptoms including severe dysmenorrhea, deep dyspareunia, noncyclic chronic pelvic pain, painful defecation during menstruation, urinary tract symptoms, and gastrointestinal symptoms as related to the location of DIE. RESULT(S): The frequency of severe dysmenorrhea increased with Douglas pouch adhesions and decreased with parity. The frequency of dyspareunia increased with a uterosacral ligament DIE location and decreased when it involved the bladder. The frequency of noncyclic chronic pelvic pain was higher when it involved the bowel and was lower for women who were treated for infertility. The frequency of painful defecation during menstruation was higher when DIE involved the vagina; lower urinary tract symptoms were more frequent when DIE involved the bladder and less frequent in women with a lower body mass index. Gastrointestinal symptoms were associated with bowel or vaginal DIE locations. CONCLUSION(S): The types of pelvic pain are related to the anatomic location of DIE. Knowledge of the characteristics of pelvic pain symptoms is important in the preoperative assessment of patients with suspected DIE.