Endometriosis in adolescents

Posted by Master, Doctor Vu Duy Thai - Obstetrician and Gynecologist - Women's Health Center - Vinmec Times City International Hospital

Symptoms of endometriosis in adolescents can occur before menstruation (rare). The appearance of endometriosis can be different in adolescents than in adults. In adolescents, endometriosis lesions are often clear and red in color.

Juvenile endometriosis often causes painful symptoms: cyclical and noncyclical pain. The most common symptom is dysmenorrhea (pain during menstruation). Bowel symptoms (eg, rectal pain, constipation, painful bowel movements that may be cyclical, rectal bleeding) and bladder symptoms (eg, dysuria, hematuria) are also common. , but rarely endometriosis of the uterus and ovaries.

In most cases, the diagnosis of endometriosis is delayed, possibly because: Pelvic examination in adolescents is difficult. In adolescents, there is usually no endometriosis, so ultrasonography is of little value in diagnosis.
Laparoscopy is the gold standard for pathological diagnosis of endometriosis.

The goals of treatment for adolescent endometriosis are to relieve pain, prevent disease progression, and preserve fertility. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are considered the main analgesics for the treatment of cases of endometriosis.
Endometriosis is treatable with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or cyclical combined oral contraceptives in adolescent patients with abdominal pain who do not need to confirm the diagnosis by laparoscopy . First-line treatment in diagnosed adolescent endometriosis should be combined oral contraceptives (continuous or cyclical) or progestin alone.
Patients who do not respond to medical treatment within three months should undergo laparoscopic surgery to confirm the diagnosis and proceed to remove the lesion. Approximately 50 to 70% of patients who do not respond to medical therapy are diagnosed with endometriosis during laparoscopic surgery.
Endometriosis is a common disease in women of all ages, if not examined and treated, it will affect a woman's fertility. Therefore, early screening and detection of gynecological diseases is very important.
In addition to receiving and treating patients with endometriosis with modern methods under the direction of experts, experienced doctors. Currently, Vinmec International General Hospital also has a basic gynecological examination and screening package, helping women to detect gynecological diseases early and get timely treatment, avoiding the impact. to reproductive health.