Considered to be ‘’the mildest’’ form of endometriosis. In superficial endometriosis, the endometriosis foci on the peritoneum (the thin, transparent membrane that covers the pelvic organs) stay superficially and do not invade in depth. However, superficial endometriosis can cause symptoms of pelvic pain and infertility. It also often coexists with other forms of endometriosis.
Non-invasive diagnosis of superficial endometriosis is challenging, either by ultrasound or MRI, since the foci are hard to visualize with the diagnostic modalities available. This is one of the reasons behind severe delays in establishing an endometriosis diagnosis, often 7 to 10 years from the onset of symptoms!
Therefore, surgery (via laparoscopy) may be required for the correct diagnosis of superficial endometriosis, which also allows us, in addition to diagnosis, to completely excise (excision) all visible endometriosis foci. In this way, we are able to significantly improve symptoms, enhance fertility and reduce the risk of recurrence of endometriosis postoperatively. Currently, there are also non-invasive diagnostic tests available (eg. saliva), however, they are only available in certain countries and remain rather pricy
