What do the "stages" of endometriosis mean?

Nov 10

BY DR. BROOKE WINNER

Endometriosis is a medical condition graded on a scale from one to four, which reflects how severe the disease is and whether there are certain complications, such as cysts on the ovaries (called endometriomas) or adhesions.

Here are some key points to understand:

Severity Scale: The stages range from one (least severe) to four (most severe), assessing the extent and impact of endometriosis.
Diagnosis Timing: The official staging of endometriosis usually happens during surgery, although if imaging tests show cysts, you might be considered at least stage three or four.
Pain and Infertility: It’s important to note that the stage of endometriosis does not always indicate how much pain a person will experience or their level of infertility. A person can have mild endometriosis (stage one) and still suffer from significant pain, while someone with severe endometriosis (stage four) might not experience much pain at all.

In summary, the staging system of endometriosis is primarily a way for doctors to describe the disease’s severity, but it doesn’t always connect to the patient’s pain levels or fertility challenges.

Do you prefer to watch it?

Watch Dr. Brooke Winner explain what the stages of endometriosis mean and why they don’t always match symptoms in this short video.