How is endometriosis detected? Can it be found in a routine vaginal exam and pap smear?
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The only way to confirm endometriosis is through a laparoscopy.  An ultra sound WILL NOT detect it.  A doctor may suspect endo based on your symptoms and s/he can treat those but can never really know for sure without taking a look if you will.  \n\nEndometriosis is tissue (the endometrium) that is growing outside of the uterus.  This isn't something that can be detected by pap or ultrasound.
1171776
endometriomas?1?!?! teehee
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From the ERC (www.endocenter.org), posted to their listserv at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/erc:\n\n\nEndometriosis-ovarian cancer link 'underestimated'\nSource: Human Reproduction 2006; 21: 1237-42\n\nResearchers assess the relative risks of individual cancers over a long period of follow-up among women with endometriosis. \n\nWomen with endometriosis appear to be up to twice as likely as the general population to develop ovarian cancer, say researchers. \n\nCo-existence of endometriosis and cancer has been reported several times. One study showed an overall relative risk of 1.2 in women with endometriosis compared with those without it, and risks for ovarian cancer and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of 1.9 and 1.8, respectively. \n\nAnna Melin (Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden) and colleagues evaluated whether these risk ratios stood in an extended study. They identified women (n = 64,492) who were discharged from a Swedish hospital with a diagnosis of endometriosis between 1969 and 2000, and assessed their incidence of cancer, using the National Swedish Cancer Register. \n\nExcluding the first year of follow-up, there were 3349 cases of cancer. The overall risk of cancer was no higher than that expected on the basis of the female Swedish population, but ovarian cancer (standardized incidence ratio [SIR] = 1.43), endocrine tumors (SIR = 1.36), non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (SIR = 1.24), and brain tumors (SIR = 1.22) were all more prevalent.\n\nAn even higher risk of ovarian cancer was seen in women with early diagnosed (SIR = 2.01) and long-standing (SIR = 2.23) endometriosis, respectively. \n\n"This study has shown an increased risk of some types of malignancy, above all ovarian cancer, in women with endometriosis," the researchers conclude.\n\n"The material indicates that the risk might have been underestimated."\n\n19 April 2006\n\n------------------\n\nEndometriosis & Malignancies\n\nWe know that Endometriosis can impact every aspect of our lives, from our interpersonal relationships to our careers; from our ability to have children to our ability to get out of bed in the morning.  It can change our views on life and how we think about ourselves - and how we think about others.  The consequences of Endometriosis touch every part of us, inside and out, prompting some women to refer to their disease as a "benign cancer."  Can Endometriosis go one step further and actually turn malignant?  Can it even place us at risk for certain cancers and other illnesses?  Unfortunately, research shows that for some women, it may. \n\nMalignant transformation of Endometriosis can and does occur.  Some researchers even estimate that approximately 0.7-1.0% of patients with Endometriosis have lesions that will ultimately undergo malignant transformation, and urge consideration of performing bilateral oophorectomy at the time of abdominal surgery in patients with significant disease.(1) \n\nWe have also begun learning of the elevated risks women with the disease have for certain cancers, including non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.  The reasons why remain unclear; however, women with Endometriosis are more likely take certain drugs, such as Progestagens, and are more likely to have had their ovaries or uterus removed, another factor that influences hormone levels and possibly increases cancer risk.  One patient undergoing Tamoxifen therapy was discovered to have malignant endometrioid neoplasia arising within her Endometriosis, suggesting to her physicians that the Tamoxifen, as a result of its estrogenic effects, caused proliferative and malignant changes in her disease.(2)   \n\nIn a similar study targeting women who had undergone hysterectomy with oophorectomy because of Endometriosis, authors noted that "Endometriosis can undergo estrogen-dependent changes similar to the endometrium and may carry a risk of developing hyperplasia and carcinoma during unopposed estrogen stimulation."  The r
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From the Endometriosis Research Center @ www.endocenter.org:\n\n"About Endometriosis:\n\nWith Endometriosis, tissue like that which lines the uterus (the endometrium) is found outside the womb in other areas of the body. Normally, the endometrium is shed each month through menses; however, with Endometriosis, these implants have no way of leaving the body. The implants still break down and bleed, but result is far different than in women and girls without the disease: internal bleeding, degeneration of blood and tissue shed from the growths, inflammation of the surrounding areas, and formation of scar tissue result. In addition, depending on the location of the growths, interference with the normal function of the bowel, bladder, intestines and other areas of the pelvic cavity can occur. Endometriosis has also been found lodged in the skin - and even the brain.\n\nSymptoms include chronic or intermittent pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation is not normal!), infertility, miscarriage(s), ectopic (tubal) pregnancy, dyspareunia (pain associated with intercourse), nausea / vomiting / abdominal cramping, diarrhea / constipation (particularly with menses), painful bowel movements, painful or burning urination, urinary frequency, retention, or urgency; fatigue, chronic pain, allergies and immune system-related illnesses are also commonly reported complaints of women who have Endo. It is quite possible to have some, all, or none of these symptoms. Endo symptoms are varied and often nonspecific, so they can easily masquerade as several other conditions, including adenomyosis ("Endometriosis Interna"), appendicitis, ovarian cysts, bowel obstructions, colon cancer, diverticulitis, ectopic pregnancy, fibroid tumors, gonorrhea, inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, ovarian cancer, and PID.\n\nDespite today's age of medical advances, researchers remain unsure as what causes of Endometriosis. There is NO CURE, despite the continued propagation of such myths by the uninformed who still mistakenly believe that hysterectomy, pregnancy and/or menopause can "cure" the disease. Invasive surgery remains the gold standard of diagnosis, and current therapies continue to remain extremely limited, often carrying side effects.\n\nMistakenly minimized as "painful periods," Endometriosis is more than just "killer cramps." It is a leading cause of female infertility, chronic pelvic pain and gynecologic surgery, and accounts for more than half of the 500,000 hysterectomies performed in the US annually. Despite being more prevalent than breast cancer, Endometriosis continues to be treated as an insignificant ailment. Recent studies have even shown an elevated risk of certain cancers and other serious illnesses in those with the disease, as well as malignant changes within the disease itself.\n\nResearch has shown that genetics, immune system dysfunction, and exposure to environmental toxins like Dioxin may all be contributing factors to the development of the disease. Endometriosis knows no racial or socioeconomic barriers, and can affect women ranging from adolescence to post-menopause. The disease can be so painful as to render a woman or teen unable to care for herself or her family, attend work, school, or social functions, or go about her normal routine. It can negatively affect every aspect of a woman's life; from her self-esteem and relationships, to her capacity to bear children, to her ability to be a contributing member of society.\n\nThe disease can currently only be diagnosed through invasive surgery, and the average delay in diagnosis is a staggering 9 years. A patient may seek the counsel of 5 or more physicians before her pain is adequately addressed. \n\nOnce diagnosed, it is not unusual for a patient to undergo several pelvic surgeries and embark on many different hormonal and medical therapies in an attempt to treat her symptoms. None of the current treatments ar
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Sorry Maggie you are incorrect. Endometriosis is the presence of normal endometrial mucosa (glands and stroma) ABNORMALLY implanted in locations OTHER than the uterine cavity. This tissue, possessing the same steroid receptors as normal endometrium, is capable of responding to the normal cycles of hormones. One theory of spread is thought to be dispersion of ectopic (meaning where it should not be) inplants throughout the peritoneal cavity (area where your bowels, liver reside) during menstruation, since sloughing off of products of endometrial tissue from the uterus is not just unidirectional (out through the cervix then vagina, but also up through the fallopian tubes leading to the body cavity known as retrograde flow. This is common in women and can't fully explain endometriosis. Endometriosis has even been found on structures even above the diaphragm. Endometriosis responds and is driven by estrogen. There are reports of women with endometriosis occuring after hysterectomy and removal of the ovaries (which makes estrogens). Women normally continue to make lower levels of weaker estrogens even after their ovaries have been removed. Some women for whatever reason continue to make high levels, and this is thought to be a reason for further symptoms.\n\nTo answer your question simply, yes, it can still grow
175930
no. you will need a laposcopy, to see it. an ultrasound will only at best show a shadowing and a cat scan will do nothing. Your doctor sounds like a drug dealer, please see a gynecologist.
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Women are supposed to see the gynecologist when they are 18 or sexually active, which ever is first.  Although everything seems normal to you, you should still get a yearly pap test to make sure.  There could be things that you can't detect, like cancerous cells, etc.  Its best to just play it safe and see a gynecologist.
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It depends on what you are seeing the doc for.  If you are going in for a pap/pelvic exam they will do the standard blood pressure, pulse, respirations and maybe temp when the nurse takes you to the examining room.  She may ask if you can give a urine sample.  She will ask you about your periods such as are they regular, when was your last period, do have any discharge and other such questions.  She will then have you get undressed while she leave the room either from the waist down or totally undressed and give you either a gown to put on or a sheet to cover your lower body.  Once the doctor comes in they will ask a few questions and then have you lay down and put your feet up in the stirrups.  If doing a pap/pelvis they will insert a plastic speculum into your vagina to hold it open so they can visually see if things look ok ie: looks healthy no discharge or other problems.  They will then take a small wooden spatula type device and gently scrap a few of your cervical cells to place on a slide.  This does not hurt at all and if it does don't hesitate to let your doctor know that this was uncomfortable as it should not hurt.  They will then remove the speculum and insert a gloved finger while they press on your abdomen to be sure they don't feel any tumors or masses on your ovaries etc.  They may do a routine breast exam to check for any lumps or masses and that should be the end of the exam.  The doc will have you sit up and ask if you have any questions and you will be done.  If you are there for other reasons such as excessive discharge or STD testing then they will also do those things.  A pap/pelvic is NOT painful and if it is painful for you then tell your doctor so they can be aware of this.  Usually your regular doc takes care of your annual pelvic/pap but I am assuming this is what you are seeing  a GYN doc for.
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There is a test now for HPV.  Schedule an appointment with your gynocologist and have it done.  That's the only way you'll ever really know.  Women cannot tell if they have with out the test by the way.
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Start when your period does. It's very important that you get a Pap once a year. It test for abnormalities. I hated going to the Gynecologist. I never went for my check ups. I ended up having to go because I got pregnant and found out I had Cervical Cancer. If I had not of gotten pregnant I would have been dead 2 years form now. I'm just trying to say be sure you go to a Gynecologist at least once a year. It could save your life.
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They usually are dong a routine checkup which consists of a pap-smear( on a micro-slide) and they are checking for cancers, disease, STD'S,the basic's of making sure that it is all there and working up to par...and I am not sure if ALL gyno's do this, but I know they also check your rectum and they will give you a physical breast exam...hope this is what you were looking for.
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Cervical polyps, also called endocervical polyps, are a growth of tissue in the cervix. The cervix is the neck of the uterus which opens into the vagina. Women of any age may have cervical polyps.\n\nPolyps are very rarely cancer, and they seldom develop into cancer of the cervix. However, we can be sure that a polyp is a benign polyp only by removing it and looking at the tissue in the lab.\nMost cervical polyps are discovered during routine pelvic exams. To confirm that a polyp is benign, your health care provider will do a biopsy. This means he or she will remove the polyp with a small sharp instrument. Your provider may scrape the base of the polyp to make sure all of the polyp is removed. He or she may put a type of paste on the cervix to control any bleeding . The tissue removed will be sent to a lab to be viewed under a microscope. The biopsy can usually be done in your health care provider's office.
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Its really important to get a papsmear for a few different reasons.  First, they check for stuff like Ovarian Cancer, check your uterous, and overies.  its also to make sure that there isnt any other infections or diseases growing inside of you.  Even if you are healthy, active, and take precautions sexually, theres health risks that go beyond that, that may and need to be checked out.  It should be done about once a year, and can even be done in your regular Drs office, but a gyno is strongly reccomended.
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First, you were put on Lupron without a true diagnosis - that was the first mistake and disservice your dr. did to you. Lupron was never intended to be a diagnostic, nor is it even remotely curative (or for that matter, even helpful in many cases).  You need a new doctor!!!!!!  Endo is a serious disease that requires serious help - you likely have ligmament involvement.  Do yourself a favor - because your current doctor never will - and see a true specialist. It will help tremendously to have the disease truly excised, not superficially vaporized or masked by temporary medication.  See www.centerforendo.com, www.endometriosistreatment.com, www.endocenter.org for help and references and info.  Good luck and you're not alone.
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Pap smears detect cervical cancer and nothing else.  I've done them myself, and it ain't pretty.  The doc just scrapes some cells off the cervix, then sends them to the pathologist to look at for cancer.
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Well i dont know where you can find information, but I had one so i can tell you about it, a small insition is made right below the belly button and a pencil sized microscope with a light on it is placed inside so that the doctor can look on a screen that is set up on a special computer so he can see what is going on inside \n\nIt does not really leave a scar I have a small hair line on the inside of my belly button, you of course you have to put to sleep for this procedure. I had it done because I had been having some bad cramps and alot of bleeding and painful intercourse, I had a pelvic ultrasound done and they thought it was a cist on my overy so decided to do the laparoscopy, but really I had Endometriosis. Laparoscopy is used to identify what wrong, inside and make a diagnosis.\n\nIt was painless and only took about  a week or two to heal. Not even that long they just tell you to not strain yourself though within that time
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What is Endometriosis?\nEndometriosis is a common and chronic gynecological and immunological disease that can result in pelvic pain. About 2-4% of women and girls of reproductive age and up to 30% of women with infertility have endometriosis. That amounts to approximately 5.5 million women in the United States and Canada.\n\nThe disease occurs when endometrial cells (the cells that line the inside of the uterus) develop outside of their normal location inside the uterus. The misplaced endometrial cells respond to the menstrual cycle in the same way as those lining the uterus. The tissue grows and sheds blood at the time of menses. However, instead of flowing out of body through the vagina, the blood shed by the misplaced cells has no way of leaving the body. The resulting internal bleeding can lead to chronic inflammation and the formation of adhesions and scar tissue.\n\nLocation of Endometriosis\nAreas commonly affected by endometriosis include the ovaries, fallopian tubes, the ligaments that support the uterus, the area between the vagina and rectum (cul-de-sac), the outer surface of the uterus and the lining of the pelvic cavity. Endometrial lesions can also be found in the bladder, bowel, vagina, cervix and vulva. More rarely the lung and other body tissues can be affected.\n\nThe frequency that endometriosis is found to occur in the pelvic area is:\n\nCul-de-sac - 72% \nUterosacral ligaments - 41% right and 45% left \nBroad ligaments - 43% right and 52% left \nUterus - 16% \nOvaries - 17% right and 17% left \nFallopian tubes 7% right and 9% left \nBladder - 33% \nSigmoid colon - 18%