Deep endometriosis is a serious disease because it is the most aggressive form of the disease, in which the endometrial tissue spreads to a larger area, being thicker than normal and causing the classic symptoms of endometriosis to be exacerbated.
In deep endometriosis, the growth of endometrial tissue occurs in large quantities outside the uterus, in places such as the intestines, ovaries, fallopian tubes or bladder, causing progressive pelvic pain during menstruation.
Symptoms of deep endometriosis
In addition to pelvic pain, women with deep endometriosis may also experience the following symptoms:
- Intense menstrual cramps; Abundant menstruation; Pain during or after intercourse; Difficulty urinating; Pain in the back; Anal bleeding at the time of menstruation.
In addition to these symptoms, deep endometriosis can also make pregnancy difficult. See the implications of endometriosis in pregnancy.
Diagnosis of deep endometriosis
The diagnosis of deep endometriosis is based on the symptoms of the disease and the performance of diagnostic tests, such as laparoscopy, opaque enema, colonoscopy, computed tomography, ultrasound and magnetic resonance. All diagnostic methods are effective in identifying changes related to the female reproductive system, however, laparoscopy and ultrasound are the most used methods due to their greater sensitivity and efficiency.
Laparoscopy and transvaginal ultrasound are the tests that most easily detect deep endometriosis, but even these cannot observe tissue changes quickly, and other tests, such as pelvic MRI, may be necessary.
Learn more about endometriosis diagnostic tests.
How the treatment is done
Treatment for deep endometriosis must be established by the gynecologist and aims to relieve symptoms, prevent recurrence and improve the woman's quality of life. Treatment should take into account the woman's age, reproductive desire, symptoms and the severity of endometriosis.
Most of the time the treatment of deep endometriosis is done with the use of drugs to anticipate menopause or take analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and naproxen, to relieve pain, especially during menstruation.
However, in case treatment with medication is not enough or if deep endometriosis is severe, the doctor may recommend surgery, as it is the only truly effective treatment for removing the endometrial tissue. Understand how surgery for endometriosis is done.
