What is Endometriosis Diagnosed With?
What is endometriosis diagnosed with? Endometriosis is initially diagnosed with a medical history, description of the pelvic pains and other symptoms, and a pelvic examination. When visiting the gynecologist (what is a gynecologist) it helps if you have recorded a list of the type and times of symptoms that you have been experiencing such as severe dysmenorrhoea. Part of your discussion with your gynecologist will be if you are trying to conceive or wish to have children in the future. This helps the obstetrics and gynecology specialist to determine how to diagnose and treat you in the follow-up exam.
What is endometriosis diagnosed with? In the office setting your gynecologist who is usually your obstetrician (what is an obstetrician), may look at your uterus with ultrasound imaging. If you have any polyps, cysts, or tumors, they can be seen. Endometriosis does not always create cysts so even with ultrasound, MRI or CT scans a definitive diagnosis cannot be made. The next step is for the gynecologist to visualize the internal pelvic area with a laparoscopic camera. This is done under anesthesia in a hospital. Your surgical gynecologist will create a tiny slit in your abdomen and slide a small video camera into the pelvic area and put some gas into your abdomen to expand the viewing area allowing a good view and room to move the camera around. Upon examination of all of the organs and tissues in your abdomen and pelvis the surgeon will take biopsies of suspicious areas. These biopsies will confirm the presents of endometrium tissue growing outside of the uterus; these biopsies can also confirm the presence of ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, cervical cancer, and vaginal cancer.
What is endometriosis diagnosed with? Your doctor will also need to diagnose and possibly remove any cysts, nodules, tumors, endometrial implants, or lesions. According to your diagnosis, desire to conceive, and other concerns your doctor may continue the examination by removing the cysts and endometrial tissue or not. The laparoscopic exam may be performed with robotic surgery (what is robotic surgery) if your gynecologist is a robotic surgeon. Your gynecologist may also be a qualified gynecologic oncology specialist which helps in case cancer is found. According to what is found during your laparoscopic exam the procedure may include the removal of endometrial implants, cysts, and adhesions, or a hysterectomy (what is a hysterectomy) with the removal of the cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes, and the ovaries. Endometriosis is diagnosed into four categories which are minimal, mild, moderate, or severe. Both surgical and medicinal options are available to treat endometriosis once the laparoscopic diagnostic exam is done. You can setup an appointment with our large team of gynecologic oncology specialist robotic surgeons by calling 954) 518-4100 or (954) 538-1300 or setup an appointment online. Continue reading to find out about what is endometriosis treated with?
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