Updated guideline for clinical evaluation and management of endometriosis

ABSTRACT

Endometriosis is a common disease in reproductive aged women, and it detrimentally affects patients' quality of life and fertility. Moreover, because of the complexity of the disease itself, proper effective management is difficult. Within this context, this review proposes the guidelines of the Korean Society of Endometriosis and other world leading societies for endometriosis with an emphasis on: diagnosis of endometriosis, treatment for endometriosis associated pain and infertility, management of asymptomatic women, endometriosis associated malignancy, and endometriosis in postmenopausal women. In recent years, the importance of medical treatment as opposed to surgical removal in the management of endometriosis is gaining popularity. Many guidelines recommend empirical treatment without diagnostic laparoscopy and long term use of medication. This is also closely connected to the social trend of late marriage age and childbirth age. Nevertheless, timely surgical interventions and assisted reproductive procedures are still crucial in the management of endometriosis. Because treatment goals differ in each patient's individual situation, possible treatment options may vary and individualized management is also important. Ultimately, a multimodal approach that is tailored to each individual's therapeutic purpose is of paramount importance in the treatment of endometriosis.