Quote:
Originally Posted by threenorns
they don't always find them on just one ultrasound. endometriosis is a tricky thing - during part of your cycle, it can diminish to near-invisibility and then flare up like mad the rest of the time.
This is correct. Endometriosis can't be diagnosed by ultrasound, although the presence of cyst-like endometriomas in combination with other symptoms can be a good indicator. However, endometriomas large enough to see on ultrasound may or may not be present even if the extent of endometriosis is severe. Endometriosis can ONLY be definitively diagnosed by exploratory laparoscopy or a more extensive pelvic/abdominal surgery. It's also worth noting that the extent of endometriosis is not correlated with the severity of symptoms; some women have mild endometriosis and a lot of pain, and others have severe endometriosis and little/no pain or other symptoms.
The reason this is worth asking your OB/GYN about it you have ANY of the other symptoms is because, beyond the pain, the biggest issue with endometriosis is infertility. Something like 30-40% of women with fertility issues have endometriosis. The saddest thing about that is that while endometriosis is a progressive disease that gets worse over time, appropriate treatment (usually birth control pills, sometimes surgery) can often halt the progression. It's often not diagnosed though until a woman has had it for many years, and by that point it has sometimes progressed to the point where infertility is a serious issue. In fact, it is frequently only diagnosed once a woman has been trying to conceive for a long time without success.
Take it from someone who knows - this is worth asking your doctor about if you have any of the other symptoms.