Three Types of Endometriosis: Pathogenesis, Diagnosis and Treatment. State of the Art

Abstract

At present, there is no curative treatment for endometriosis. Medical management and surgical treatment do not provide long-term relief. A detailed understanding of its pathophysiology is mandatory in order to facilitate both the diagnosis and treatment. The delay that typically precedes proper diagnosis (6 to 7 years) is probably one of the most challenging aspects of endometriosis management. In 2012, the total cost per woman due to endometriosis was estimated to be 9579€ per year in a multicenter study across the USA and Europe. According to their physiopathology and their localization, ectopic endometrial lesions, consisting of endometrial glands and stroma, can be divided into three different types: superficial peritoneal endometriosis (SPE), ovarian endometrioma (OMA), and deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE). The following paper aims to review the available data in the literature on the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of different types of endometriosis.