Understanding Endometriosis in Adolescents: Early Signs, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Warning Signs: Early recognition is key!

Endometriosis often starts early, but it’s easy to miss. Risk factors like a family history, early periods, short and heavier cycles, or uterine anomalies should raise suspicion for endometriosis in adolescents. The disease likely begins in adolescence with a repeated retrograde menstrual bleeding which then leads to secondary oxidative damage to the pelvic peritoneum.

For many adolescent girls, getting their period is a significant milestone, but for some, it marks the onset of intense and debilitating pain. Endometriosis often starts early, bringing excruciating cramps and relentless pelvic pain with it. Unfortunately, these early signs are too often brushed off as “just normal growing pains“, leaving countless girls to suffer in silence for years. Therefore, early awareness and action are crucial to improving health and quality of life. 

Young women who frequently miss school due to painful periods or rely on birth control pills for relief should raise suspicion. Key warning signs include chronic or recurring pelvic pain, nausea, painful periods, painful bowel movements, discomfort during urination, or pain with sex. If these symptoms appear—especially cyclically—clinicians should take a closer look.

Early Diagnosis Matters: Find Experts Who Understand

Diagnosing endometriosis in adolescents can be challenging. The disease often appears as hard to detect with routine imaging, especially for the early stages of disease. The incidence of endometriosis rises sharply around age 25. However, since diagnosis is often delayed, the actual onset likely occurs much earlier, suggesting that the disease begins in adolescence. Understanding the early signs and challenges in diagnosing endometriosis in adolescents is critical for timely intervention and better outcomes.

In adolescents with suspected endometriosis, a negative imaging result doesn’t rule it out. If pain persists despite NSAIDs or hormonal treatments, a laparoscopy excision surgery may be necessary. During surgery, taking biopsies is key for histological confirmation.

Following an excision surgery, postoperative hormone therapy also can be considered to minimize the recurrent disease. It can help suppress symptom flares and improve long-term management. Early intervention and tailored treatment following surgery are essential for better outcomes for the management of the disease.

Don’t Ignore the Impact: Take Action

Dedicated endometriosis centers, like those pioneered by specialists such as Dr. Seckin, offer advanced surgical methods and expertise for accurate diagnosis at unresponsive patients to the medical treatment. Furthermore, Dr. Seckin and Dr. Chu have emphasized the importance of listening to patients. Therefore, parents and caregivers should not hesitate to consult with experts if symptoms persist despite medical management.

Have you or your daughter been experiencing same symptoms? Please do not hesitate to share your story with others by leaving a comment on our post on Facebook or Instagram if you wish.

You can also look for:

The ENPOWR Project: Adolescent Endometriosis Education and Advocacy

Further reading

You may also wish to explore the latest literature available on Endonews for further insights:

• Endometriosis in Adolescents: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Challenges
• Immune Dynamics in Adolescent Peritoneal Endometriosis
• GP Records May Hold Information About Possible Endometriosis in Adolescents
• Dysmenorrhea in adolescent girls and the quality of life
• Mindfulness Apps Could Help Adolescents Manage Period Pain