According to a novel study issued in ‘Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology’, lower probabilities of new diagnosis of endometriosis in women with pelvic pain (aged above 40 years), no prior laparoscopy and a standard sonogram was observed.

Shamen Gunawardena and researchers examined the prevalence of new diagnosis of endometriosis in women aged 40 years and above with previously undiagnosed pelvic pain and no history of surgical or sonographic indication of endometriosis.

Premenopausal women aged 18-51 years with pelvic pain and were booked for laparoscopy to diagnose and possibly treat endometriosis were considered in this retrospective cohort study. Laparoscopic visual assessment and treatment were executed in all patients focusing on endometriosis surgery. At laparoscopy, the presence or absence of visualized endometriosis was evaluated.

Overall, 174 women fulfilled the inclusion criteria; endometriosis was diagnosed in 35% (19/55) of patients aged 40 years and above and 67% (80/119) of patients aged below 40 years. As per secondary outcome analysis, deep infiltrating endometriosis was diagnosed in fewer women at or above age 40 years compared to women below age 40 years (Table 1).

A curvilinear relationship was found with age where there was also a lesser occurrence of endometriosis of 50% (19/38) in the young women aged 18-25 years.