Diagnosis of endometriosis and pelvic pain.
Both the American and the Royal Colleges of Obstetricians and Gynecologists have produced guidelines that recommend patients with chronic pelvic pain, including those suspected of having endometriosis, should receive empirical medical therapy without a preliminary diagnostic laparoscopy. This paper reviews the implications of this approach.
Garry
Ray
R
School of Women's and Infants' Health, King Edward Memorial Hospital, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia. rgarry@meddent.uwa.edu.au
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D015897:Comorbidity; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D017699:Pelvic Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D013997:Time Factors; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D016387:Women's Health