Abstract
The majority of young women will experience discomfort associated with menstrual cycles and miss out on education and social opportunities. Endometriosis, the presence of endometrial glands and stroma outside of uterus, is the most common cause of secondary dysmenorrhea and characterized by pain despite treatment with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and hormonal agents. The true prevalence of adolescent endometriosis is not clear. Delay in diagnosis leads to persistent pain, affects quality of life, and potentially contributes to disease progression and subfertility. A laparoscopic diagnosis is the gold standard, but the surgical appearance may differ from adults, as endometriotic lesions are usually red or clear, making their identification a challenge for gynecologists who are unexperienced with endometriosis in adolescents. A personalized medical–surgical treatment is regarded as the most effective therapeutic strategy to achieve remission of symptoms, suppress disease progression, and protect future fertility. Studies have demonstrated how adolescent endometriosis negatively affects patients’ quality of life and psychosocial functioning. Development of therapeutic interventions targeting psychosocial function and quality of life is imperative for adolescent patients.
Highlights
The majority of adolescents (70–93%) experience discomfort associated with menstruation [1,2]
The exact prevalence of endometriosis among adolescents is yet to be estimated, as the reported prevalence varies among studies, depending on the population examined
Adolescents may not present with the typical symptomatology of endometriosis, namely dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, dyschezia, and/or infertility
Summary
The majority of adolescents (70–93%) experience discomfort associated with menstruation [1,2]. Most adolescents have primary dysmenorrhea, defined as painful menstruation, in cases that pelvic pathology has been excluded [5]. The pain and discomfort emerge when ovulatory cycles are attained, usually within 6 to 12 months post menarche. These symptoms may begin the last day of the menstrual cycle, continue during the first two days of menstruation, and be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, muscle cramps, and headaches [6,7]. Endometriosis is a gynecologic disorder, defined by the presence of endometrial glands and stroma outside of the uterine lining. It is characterized mainly by pain and infertility. Due to limited epidemiological data, it is difficult to establish a consensus approach for adolescent endometriosis
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