Endometriosis has a wide symptom range, and needs to be diagnosed by a doctor; the gold standard for diagnosis is laparoscopy (minimally invasive surgery), although nonsurgical diagnostic tools are being investigated. In terms of imaging, MRI is showing the most positive results, although more studies are needed before it can replace surgical diagnosis. Transvaginal ultrasound may also be useful for endometriosis involving the rectum and sigmoid colon.[1] Blood markers could also be used for diagnosis in the future, although the appropriate marker hasn’t yet been found. Anti-endometrial autoantibodies, interleukin 6 (IL-6), and cancer antigen 125 (CA 125) have been considered, but are not accurate enough to replace the current diagnostic standard.[2]
How is endometriosis diagnosed?
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•Last Updated: May 16, 2025
Endometriosis is diagnosed primarily through laparoscopy, which is the gold standard for diagnosis, although MRI and transvaginal ultrasound are under exploration as nonsurgical options. Blood markers for diagnosis are also under investigation, but none have proven accurate enough to replace surgical methods at this time.