Endometriosis

Abstract

The cause of endometriosis is not known. The incidence of the disease is greater than was previously suspected and it probably is increasing. Nulliparous women are more likely to have endometriosis than are women who have had children. The commonest symptoms are lower abdominal pain, disturbance of menstruation, and dysmenorrhea, most often of the increasing or acquired type. Relative and absolute sterility are common partners of endometriosis.A better percentage of correct preoperative diagnoses should be obtained in view of present knowledge.Radical operation on women in the premenopausal age groups with endometriosis is resorted to in far too high a percentage of cases. The good results which can be attained with conservative therapy, including surgical and hormone therapy, should be stressed. There is some evidence that endocrine therapy may control endometriosis. The dangers attending these methods have not as yet been determined.