SJP Nutrition

Diagnosing Endometriosis

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Getting diagnosed can be difficult. On average it can take as long as 8-10 years. This is because some of the symptoms of endometriosis can be very similar to other conditions. This means it is crucial to share as much information as possible about your symptoms with your doctor.

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If you are experiencing abnormal symptoms each month and your period is impacting your lifestyle, it is important to discuss this with your doctor as soon as possible. Try to keep a diary, recording all your regular symptoms, to show your doctor. It is important that your doctor evaluates you for other conditions that may be contributing to your symptoms too. Often individuals with endometriosis have other conditions that also need to be investigated.

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Your doctor may send you for scans to begin with. Ovarian cysts, fibroids, and nodules can be visualised on ultrasounds and MRIs, but the majority of endometriosis and adhesions often evade ultrasounds, MRIs, and other testing, such as colonoscopies. A negative scan result does not rule out endometriosis.

 

Endometriosis can only be diagnosed through surgery, confirmed through biopsy of suspicious tissue, and confirmation by a pathologist. If endometriosis is found during the diagnostic surgery, they will usually remove it at the same time. 

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It is important that a surgeon experienced in identifying endometriosis performs the surgery, to reduce the possibility of missing the diagnosis.