title: A long-term follow-up study of women with asymptomatic endometriosis diagnosed incidentally at sterilization.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate whether asymptomatic endometriosis diagnosed in connection with tubal sterilization is likely to cause symptoms later in the woman's life.
  
  
  METHODS
  Controlled, clinical follow-up study of women who were examined for endometriosis in connection with tubal sterilization performed between 1986 and 1989.
  
  
  METHODS
  University hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-nine women with mostly minimal endometriosis discovered at sterilization and 157 control women with no endometriosis discovered at sterilization.
  
  
  METHODS
  Interview in 2001 by a posted questionnaire.
  
  
  METHODS
  Report on pain, pelvic operations, menopausal status, and use of hormone replacement therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pelvic pain was more frequently reported by controls than by women with endometriosis (28% vs. 6%). There was no significant difference between the groups concerning dysmenorrhea, premenstrual pain, or dyspareunia, nor was there any significant difference in the hysterectomy rate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is little risk that asymptomatic, minimal endometriosis found incidentally will become symptomatic.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, St. Olav's University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway. mette.moen@medisin.ntnu.no
authors.forename: Mette Haase
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Moen
authors.forename: Trine
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Stokstad
mesh_terms: D004412:Dysmenorrhea; D004414:Dyspareunia; D004714:Endometrial Hyperplasia / Q000601:surgery; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000601:surgery; D008593:Menopause; D017699:Pelvic Pain; D013246:Sterilization, Tubal; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery