Endometriosis and adenomyosis: diagnosis and management
- 1SPHERE NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health in Primary Care, Monash University, Melbourne
- 2Department of General Practice, Monash University, Melbourne
Abstract
SUMMARY: Endometriosis and adenomyosis are common chronic gynaecological conditions with significant health and economic impacts.
Endometriosis and adenomyosis present with diverse and overlapping symptoms and can coexist. Symptoms may include pelvic pain, dysmenorrhoea, heavy menstrual bleeding, fatigue and subfertility, contributing to impaired quality of life and reduced participation in work, education and social activities.
General practitioners are often the first point of contact and play a critical role in early recognition, preliminary diagnosis, initiation of treatment and referral.
The current Australian guideline supports clinical diagnosis and early management without waiting for surgical confirmation. First-line management includes analgesia and hormonal therapies, tailored to patient priorities, goals, fertility intention, comorbidities and concomitant medications.
Timely investigation, person-centred care and appropriate referral are essential to reducing diagnostic delay, symptom burden and long-term impacts.
Related
- Digital health-enabled life-course management of endometriosis: from early recognition and assisted diagnosis to symptom monitoring and self-management.
- Berberine and Berberine-Containing Alkaloid Preparations in Preclinical Models of Endometriosis and Adenomyosis: A Systematic Review
- Modulation of immune and inflammatory responses involving selected galectins and selected immune-inflammatory mediators in women with deep endometriosis coexisting with adenomyosis – preliminary study
- Potential biomarker candidates for improving diagnosis and disease treatment in adenomyosis
- Correlation Between the Age at Menarche, Time to Diagnosis, and Disease Severity Assessed Using the rASRM and #ENZIAN Classifications in Patients Diagnosed with Advanced Endometriosis
BibTeX
@article{crawford2026endometriosis,
title = {{Endometriosis and adenomyosis: diagnosis and management}},
author = {Sharinne B Crawford and Alissia Hui and Danielle Mazza},
journal = {Australian Prescriber},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.18773/austprescr.2026.041},
url = {https://doi.org/10.18773/austprescr.2026.041},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Endometriosis and adenomyosis: diagnosis and management
AU - Sharinne B Crawford
AU - Alissia Hui
AU - Danielle Mazza
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - Australian Prescriber
DO - 10.18773/austprescr.2026.041
UR - https://doi.org/10.18773/austprescr.2026.041
AB - SUMMARY: Endometriosis and adenomyosis are common chronic gynaecological conditions with significant health and economic impacts. Endometriosis and adenomyosis present with diverse and overlapping symptoms and can coexist. Symptoms may include pelvic pain, dysmenorrhoea, heavy menstrual bleeding, fatigue and subfertility, contributing to impaired quality of life and reduced participation in work, education and social activities. General practitioners are often the first point of contact and play a critical role in early recognition, preliminary diagnosis, initiation of treatment and referral. The current Australian guideline supports clinical diagnosis and early management without waiting for surgical confirmation. First-line management includes analgesia and hormonal therapies, tailored to patient priorities, goals, fertility intention, comorbidities and concomitant medications. Timely investigation, person-centred care and appropriate referral are essential to reducing diagnostic delay, symptom burden and long-term impacts.
SN - 0312-8008
SN - 1839-3942
ER -