Spotlight: diagnosis and management of endometriosis

Endometriosis is a common, and potentially debilitating disease. It is thought to affect approximately 6-10% of the population, although prevalence rates may be much higher since a significant proportion of patients are asymptomatic.1 It is defined as the presence of endometrial-like tissue outside of the uterus, which can result in local inflammatory reactions, the formation of scar tissue and adhesions.2 The symptoms and severity of endometriosis can vary considerably. The most common features are dysmenorrhoea and chronic pelvic pain, which can occur fairly soon after the start of menarche, and deep dyspareunia. More rarely it can affect the lower gastrointestinal