What Is Endometriosis?
4. Patient History
Patients with endometriosis tend to be nulliparous (no history of childbirth) and have short menstrual cycles where there is prolonged flow (of 8 days or more). The pain is often followed by flow and generally resolves after 1 to 2 days of menstruation. The symptoms also generally improve after menopause and during pregnancy with recurrence after delivery or hormone replacement therapy.
These patients also may have a family member (first-degree relative) who has endometriosis. In some patients, the product from sloughing can become entrapped due to a cyst formation resulting in a mass known as an endometrioma. While it can occur in any location, it is most commonly located in the ovaries. This mass can become painful and, if ruptured, causes an acute surgical abdomen.
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