Endometriosis and Female Pelvic Pain

Endometriosis is a nonmalignant gynecologic disorder that can have a significant impact on a woman's quality of life with pelvic pain and possible lasting effects on one's fertility. Symptoms, when present, can be severe and affect many organ systems including the gastrointestinal and urinary systems. Other etiologies of pelvic pain must be ruled out and/or need to be addressed concurrently for optimal patient care. There are numerous medical and surgical treatment options available that have been shown to be beneficial for endometriosis-related pelvic pain. Recurrence is common when medications are discontinued and even after surgical therapy. Ultimately, the treatment approach will be dependent on the needs of the patient, taking into consideration the patient's desire for fertility, symptoms, past treatment, and patient preferences.