I'm confused. Does being diagnosed with an endometrioma mean you also have endometriosis??

[starrynight5626]

I've read different things on different forums. Some say you can't have an endo without having endometriosis and others have said their doctor said even though they have an endo that they don't have endometriosis. Still others say that if you do have an endo you are at stage 3 or 4 endometriosis.

[Stormtrooper4]

I actually had an appointment with my Consultant this morning and asked the same question. I was told an endometrioma is endometriosis of the ovary if that helps.

[starrynight5626 in reply to Stormtrooper4]

So it's not the same as having stage 3 or 4 deep infiltrating endometriosis?

[Stormtrooper4 in reply to starrynight5626]

No, I was just told it was endometriosis of the ovary. The Dr said just because you have an endometrioma does not mean you have endometriosis all over.

[Stormtrooper4]

Your endometrioma could be classed as stage 3 or 4 depending on the size I suppose??

[Doggies221]

Deep infiltrating endometriosis is when endometrial tissue implants in the posterior cul de sac or attaches to distant organs. And emdometrioma forms when such an implant lands on the ovary and forms a cyst. Both of these are a result of having endometriosis. Some people have one or the other, some people have both forms of endometriosis and some people with endometriosis have only mild superficial implants that are neither endometrioma nor deep infiltrating endometriosis. All of these manifestations are manifestations of the disease endometriosis.

[c142]

There's subtypes of endometriosis - superficial peritoneal lesions, the ovarian endometrioma, and the deep infiltrating endometriosis. Endometrioma are highly correlated with bowel endometriosis. I heard one of the specialists in the UK say he has only ever seen one or two cases throughout his career where it wasn't found at the bowel. The disease can also develop affecting the urinary system, as well as silently around the ureters producing no pain. You might find the endometriosis UK page beneficial

[0V0J0]

Hi

I had an endometrioma removed in 2008 (aged 48) with no mention of endometriosis. I had fertility problems, very heavy painful periods and painful sex and was checked out but endometriosis never diagnosed. Two years ago I watched a programme and it stated that endometriomas are a more severe form of endometriosis. Fast forward two tears I had an incidental flag up of an enlarged ovary. It was thought to be a benign ovarian cyst which was growing. Waited 10 months for it to be removed. Histology came back as endometrioid ovarian cancer which is now known to be caused by endometriosis!

I won the lottery with the early flag up and it was frittered away by uninformed medics and their lack of knowledge which is readily available to all about a cancer that can go from stage 1 to stage 4 in a year ( which I found out to my cost) [edited by moderator]. Inform yourself and take charge. Best wishes.

[Pizzaislife]

It is all really confusing when you try research and figure out stages of endometriosis and what it actually is! There doesn’t seem to be one really clear thing.

I was diagnosed with both endometriosis of the peritoneum (just superficial they think rather than deep infiltrating) and endometriosis of the ovary (which basically means I have endometriomas on my ovaries) a few months ago. As far as I’m aware both just fall under the main disease of endometriosis. So I would say having endometriomas does mean you have endometriosis, and its specifically on your ovaries.

Initially my consultant said he thought I was a max of stage 2 endometriosis but that was before they found I had endometriomas as well. He hasn’t really mentioned stages since then but when researching it looks like that means I’m a minimum of stage 3. But I’ve also read loads on the stages just being not very helpful and only really needed as a guideline for medical professionals because they literally have no other way of classing endometriosis at the moment.