Endometriosis Diagnosis

In order to diagnose¹⁵ endometriosis, your healthcare provider will begin by asking about your signs and symptoms, including where and when your pelvic pain occurs.

Your provider may also order testing to check for physical signs of endometriosis. These tests include:

• Pelvic exam: During a pelvic exam, your provider will feel the areas in your pelvis for abnormalities, such as scars on your uterus or cysts on your reproductive organs.
• Imaging tests: Different types of imaging tests, including ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), may be used to take images of your reproductive organs. While standard ultrasounds, for example, can’t be used to diagnose endometriosis alone, they can help identify whether you have cysts associated with endometriosis (endometriomas).
• Laparoscopy: A laparoscopy is a surgical procedure that allows a surgeon to view the inside of your abdomen. This procedure involves making a small incision near your belly button (navel) and using a viewing instrument called a laparoscope to look for signs of endometriosis growths. This can help your provider determine the size, location, and extent of these growths.

In some cases, a laparoscopy alone will be sufficient for your provider to make a diagnosis of endometriosis (and even treat the condition). At other times, the surgeon will need to take a small tissue sample (called a biopsy) and view it under a microscope to confirm whether it is endometriosis.

If your provider doesn’t find signs of growths or ovarian cysts during an ultrasound, they may prescribe medication¹⁶ to determine whether your symptoms are being caused by endometriosis. If your symptoms improve while on these medications, you likely have endometriosis.

Common options are hormonal birth control, which can help lessen pelvic pain during menstruation, and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (Gn-RH) agonists, which help lower the amount of estrogen your body produces and block your menstrual cycle.