Endometriosis – the importance of early diagnosis

Abstract

Endometriosis is a progressive disease, characterized by the presence of ectopic endometrial tissue, with various locations. In most cases, it occurs in women of re­pro­duc­tive age, affecting both the physical and men­tal health of the patients. Today, the etiology and path­o­ge­ne­sis of en­do­metriosis are not completely elucidated, the phe­no­me­non of retrograde menstruation being the most accepted theory. Clinically, the patients may be asymp­to­matic, but in most cases there are symptoms such as dys­me­nor­rhea, dyspareunia, pelvic pain and infertility. Due to the fact that the clinical manifestations of endometriosis are so variable and nonspecific, and because the diagnosis can only be con­­firmed through laparoscopy and histopathological exa­mi­nation, the positive diagnosis is difficult to sustain, and in most cases this happens late, when the chances of complications, such as infertility and chronic pelvic pain, are greater. It is extremely important that the doctor who has the first contact with the patients – in most cases, being the general practitioner – to know the symp­toms, the evolution, respectively the possible com­pli­ca­tions of endometriosis. A family doctor who possesses this know­ledge could suspect endometriosis in the early stages of the disease and refer patients to the gynecologist, thus play­ing a key role in early diagnosis, and in preventing the oc­cur­rence of complications with serious and irreversible con­sequences.