Endometriosis

Overview

Definition
Endometriosis: The presence of endometrial glands and stroma outside the endometrial cavity and uterine musculature
Endometritis: Inflammation of the endometrium usually by an infection
Infertility: Inability to conceive after 1 year of unprotected intercourse.
Primary Infertility: A woman has never been able to get pregnant.
Secondary Infertility: A woman has been pregnant in the past, but has 1 year of inability to conceive.
Dysmenorrhoea: Painful menstruation
Dyspareunia: Difficult or painful sexual intercourse.

Overview Endometriosis is defined as the presence of endometrial glands and stroma outside the endometrial cavity and uterine musculature. Like the endometrial tissue from which it is derived, endometrial implants and cysts respond to the hormonal fluctuation of the menstrual cycle. Endometriosis is a common condition associated with infertility and should be suspected in any infertile woman. Endometriosis affects 6-10% of women of reproductive age and is a major contributor to pelvic pain.

Risk Factors

  • Mullerian anomiles
  • Diethylstilbestrol exposure in utero
  • Early Menarche
  • Late menopause
  • Obesity
  • Short menstrual cycles
  • Low birth weight
  • Exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals
  • Genetics
  • Red meat and trans fat
Side note Protective factors include fruit, green vegetables, n-3 long chain fatty acids, prolonged lactation and multiple pregnancies

Signs and Symptoms

Clinical Presentation Women with extensive endometriosis may have minimal symptoms. Whereas, women with minimal endometriosis may have severe pain.

  • Severe dysmenorrhea
  • Chronic Pelvic pain
  • Deep dyspareunia
  • Ovulation pain
  • Chronic fatigue
  • Pain on defecation
  • Infertility
Four Ds of endometriosis: dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia and dyschezia and dysuria
Think Endometriosis should be considered a possible aetiology in patients who present with dysmenorrhea that does not respond to oral contraceptive or NSAIDs
Side note In approaching infertility, there are five basic factors to examine: (1) ovulatory, (2) uterine, (3) tubal, (4) male factor, and (5) peritoneal factor (endometriosis).

Clinical Examination

  • Pelvic tenderness
  • Fixed (immobile) retrograde uterus
  • Tender/Thickened uterosacral ligaments which may be nodular
  • Enlarged ovaries

Differential Diagnosis

Gyaenacological

  • Adenomyosis
  • Leiomyomata (Fibroids)
  • Interstitial cystitis
  • Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
  • Ovarian cyst
  • Uterine Myoma

Non-Gyaenacological

Investigations

  • Transvaginal ultrasound (preferred)
  • MRI

Diagnosis Laparoscopy is the “gold standard” in diagnosing endometriosis, and lesions may have a variety of appearances. The mean interval between the onset of pain and definitive surgical diagnosis is 10.4 years.

Side note When surgical treatment is being considered, attempt laparoscopic excision or ablation at the time of diagnostic laparoscopy when possible
Indications for Laproscopy
NSAID - resistant lower abdominal pain/dysmenorrhoea
Pain resulting in days off work/school or hospitalization
Pain and infertility investigation
Remember Endometriosis is most commonly found on the ovaries and is typically bilateral.

Pathology

Gross and microscopic pathology Endometriosis lesions in the pelvis can be categorized into three types:

  • Superficial peritoneal lesions - typically located on pelvic organ or pelvic peritoneum. Classical lesions are powder burn or gun shot lesions
  • Ovarian lesions (endometrioma) - an ovarian cyst, or endometrioma, is formed when ectopic endometrial tissue within the ovary bleeds and results in a hematoma surrounded by duplicated ovarian parenchyma
  • Deeply infiltrating endometriosis - a solid endometriosis mass situated more than 5 mm deep to the peritoneum

Pathophysiology

Theories

  • Retrograde menstruation
  • Vascular and lymphatic dissemination of endometrial cells
  • Coelomic metaplasia of multipotential cells in the peritoneal cavity
  • Impaired Immunity

Management

Management reasonable goals for management of endometriosis include reduction in pelvic pain, minimizing surgical intervention and preserving fertility

Hormonal treatment - mimic pregnancy or menopause

  • Combined oral contraceptives
  • Progestagens
  • Intrauterine Devices (Mirena)
  • Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists
  • Aromatase inhibitors
Side note all drugs are equally effective in relieving pain and are associated with up to 50% recurrence after approximately 12-24 months after stopping

Pain Treatment - Hormonal treatment helps alleviate pain

  • NSAIDs may help

Surgical Treatment - eliminate all visible peritoneal lesions, endometriomas, deep endometriosis and associated adhesions, and to restore normal anatomy. May involve:

  • Laparoscopic ablation
  • Open Surgery with local resection
  • Hysterectomy +/- oophorectomy
Remember In the five years after surgery or medical treatment, 20-50% of women will experience recurrence of symptoms

Complications and Prognosis

Complications

  • Ovarian failure post-surgical intervention
  • Adhesions formation
  • Endometriosis increases risk of developing autoimmune diseases
  • Mental Health Illness
  • Infertility
Remember No medical treatment can improve fertility in endometriosis patients

Prognosis Endometriosis-associated pain can be managed by medical and surgical means, with a varying degree of recurrence and progression. Delays in diagnosis are common and result in untreated pain. Fertility issues depends on multple factors

References

BestPractice
UpToDate
Magowan, BA., Owen, P., & Thomson, A. (2014). Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology. 3rd ed. Saunders Elsevier.
Oxford handbook of obstetrics and gynaecology

A healthy 25-year-old woman presents with worsening dysmenorrhea, pain of recent onset in the left lower quadrant, and dyspareunia. She has regular menstrual cycles, and her last menstrual period was 3 weeks before presentation. She has been trying to fall pregnant over the past 10 months without success and she is becoming more concerned.

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