In the case of suspected endometriosis, the gynecologist or fertility specialist may order tests such as a transvaginal ultrasound, CA125 or MRI, but in some specific cases, additional tests evaluating other areas of the body and the degree of alteration of these tissues.
Endometriosis is characterized by the presence of endometrial tissue, which is the tissue that lines the inside of the uterus, in places outside the uterus such as peritoneum, ovaries, bladder or intestines, for example, usually the gynecologist orders these tests when the disease is suspected due to symptoms such as very severe menstrual cramps, pain during intimate contact, or difficulty getting pregnant.
Tests that are generally prescribed to diagnose endometriosis include:
During the doctor’s appointment, the gynecologist looks at the vagina with a speculum, and if he thinks there may be intestinal endometriosis, he may also look at the rectum for cysts, which may indicate changes.
Ultrasound can be done by the pelvis or transvaginally, being one of the first tests to study endometriosis, and it is necessary to completely empty the intestine before the test by taking a laxative the day before.It is very useful for identifying ovarian endometriosis, which is one of the most common, but can also indicate whether endometriosis exists in the bladder, ureters, vagina and restoller wall.
See the necessary preparation, price and how transvaginal ultrasound is performed.
The CA 125 test is not specific to endometriosis, but it can also be requested and should be performed on the first or second day of the menstrual cycle and may indicate the disease when the result is greater than 100 IU/mL.
Find out what ca 125 results can mean and how it’s done
It is usually requested in cases of suspected ovarian masses that need to be better evaluated and may also indicate deep endometriosis, which also affects the intestine, this test may show scattered fibrosis and alterations in the pelvis, subcutaneous tissue, abdominal wall and even on the surface of the diaphragm.
Know the price, the types and how the MRI is performed.
Videolaparoscopy is the best test to identify endometriosis because it leaves no doubt about the disease, it also serves to check the stage of the disease and allows a tissue biopsy to be done to check if there is suspicion of malignancy.
This test may also be prescribed after a certain amount of treatment to check if it has the desired effect, but this is not usually the doctor’s first choice, as it is expensive and invasive, requires anesthesia and you must first find other outbreaks of endometriosis to decrease the duration of the exam.
Find out how diagnostic laparoscopy is performed, its price and recovery.
There are other complementary tests that can also be controlled, such as rectal resonance or ecoendoscopy for example, that allow you to better observe the places where endometrial tissue develops to establish the best treatment, which can be done with the continuous pill, for 6 During this period, your doctor may repeat laparoscopy again to evaluate the course of the disease. In more severe cases, surgery may be needed to remove tissue that develops outside the uterus, which can cause infertility if the pelvic organs are also remote.