a lap is supposed to be the best way but depends on if the dr performing it is a specialist in endo. an mri can be very useful to map things out before surgery as it will show areas the eye cannot see.
i was told i had stage 4 endo following ultrasounds then lap with general gynae was clear. an mri a couple of months later confirmed also i did have stage 4 and also pcs and adeno. my second lap with the endo specialist then also confirmed stage 4. i would recommend an mri if u had the choice as it is less invasive but please bare in mind it still may not show everything.
that teally depends on how good and how thorough the surgeon is! my general gynae appeared to have just peeped inside whereas if he had just looked underneath my uterus he would have seen i was covered in endo. my specialist was amazed it had been missed. the mri helped them to know where to look better. even after my second lap im still not right and facing surgery number three. even still i would opt for an mri beforehand as its less invasive.
If you are in the UK, then you need to be seen by a Specialist Endo Gynae at a BSGE Clinic. There are links on here to find the nearest one to you.
Investigations eg: a Lap, MRI can be done by general gynaes, first, if it is not yet certain that it is Endo, but I wouldn't have them doing any removing, as chances are they'll miss some. Also, as Ruback says, they may even miss the Endo, as generals just don't know to look in some places, and don't always recognise the different forms of Endo.
I'd read as much as you can on this website, and on the 'Endo UK' site - link at top of page, and maybe talk to their advisors - and check posts on here by 'Lindle'.
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