For endometriosis screening, the gynecologist, the fertility specialist, may order tests such as transvaginal ultrasound, CA 125 or MRI, but in specific cases, additional tests may be required to evaluate other areas of the body and grade. to compromiso. de these tissues.
Endometriosis is characterized by the presence of endometrial tissue, which is coated internally in the uterus, in places outside the uterus, such as in the peritoneum, ovaries, veins or intestines, for example, usually the gynecologist requests these tests in case of illness due to symptoms such as very intense menstrual cramps, painful during intimate contact or difficulty falling.
Tests that are usually required to diagnose endometriosis include
During the gynecologist’s medical consultation, look at the vagina with the speculum and in case of suspicion, intestinal endometriosis, you may also look at your rectum to look for cysts that may indicate abnormalities.
Ultrasound can be done through the pelvis or transvaginally, being one of the first tests to study endometriosis, it is necessary to completely evacuate the intestine before the test, taking a laxative the day before, this test is very useful for identifying ovarian endometriosis, which is one of the most common and can also indicate whether there is endometriosis in the bladder , urethra, vagina and rectum walls.
See the necessary preparation and how the transvaginal ultrasound is performed.
The CA 125 blood test is not specific to endometriosis, but it can also be requested and the second day of the menstrual cycle should be performed on the chart, being able to indicate the disease when the result is greater than 100 IU / mL.
Depending on what the results of ca 125 mean and how the review is performed.
You usually wonder when there is an ovarian mass, which needs to be better evaluated and can also indicate deep endometriosis, which also affects the intestine, this scan may show scattered fibrosis and changes in the pelvis, subcutaneous tissue, abdominal wall and even the surface of the diaphragm.
As the MRI is performed
Laparoscopy is the test that will give the definitive diagnosis of endometriosis, because there is no doubt about the disease, it also serves to check the condition of the disease and allows to perform a biopsy of the tissue to detect any suspicion of malignancy.
This test may be requested after a certain time of treatment, to see if you get the expected effect, but usually at the first option of your doctor as it is expensive and invasive, requires anesthesia and the first must discover other endometriosis epidemics, to reduce the demand time of this problem. This is called laparoscopy.
There are other complementary tests that may also be necessary such as urological resonance or rectal endoscopic ultrasound, for example, as they help me observe the best places where endometrial tissue develops to establish the best treatment, which can be performed during the ongoing process. Months. During this period, your doctor may repeat laparoscopy to evaluate the course of the disease. In the most severe cases, surgery may be needed to remove the tissue that creates the uterus, causing infertility, if the pelvic organs are removed.