Sometimes, an imaging test – such as an ultrasound, MRI or CT scan – is also ordered. That may find larger endometriosis growths, such as ovarian cysts caused by the disease. However, most spots of endometriosis are flat, like freckles on the skin, so they don't show up on scans.
To know for sure whether you have endometriosis, the doctor needs to look inside your abdomen with laparoscopy. In this minor surgery, a slender viewing tube is inserted into the abdomen through a tiny incision. A doctor who knows what to look for can spot the difference between normal tissue and endometriosis.
Once diagnosed, endometriosis can be treated with medication. What are the pros and cons?
The main medicines are hormonally based. Some women feel better while on them, but symptoms return once [the treatment] is stopped.
[Medications prescribed include] birth control pills, which replace fluctuating levels of estrogen during the menstrual cycle with a low, steady level. Potential side effects include irregular bleeding, weight gain, high blood pressure, depression, gallstones, blood clots in the legs, heart attacks and strokes. Serious side effects are rare, however.
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists block the production of hormones that stimulate the ovaries to make estrogen. This mimics menopause. Potential side effects include hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, bone loss, joint aches and pains, memory problems, weight gain and mood swings. Some of these effects may continue long after the medicine is stopped.
GnRH agonists are also expensive, costing between $300 and $500 a month.
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