• History: A careful evaluation of the patient's general and menstrual history is important in establishing firm ground to diagnose Endometriosis.
• Physical examination: A pelvic examination can help to rule out other gynecological conditions like abnormal growths or masses.
• Blood tests: A tumor marker called CA 125 is commonly investigated and is found elevated in about 30-60% cases of Endometriosis.
• Specialized tests: Transvaginal USG (sonography) is important and can be helpful. It can diagnose bigger endometrial cysts in ovaries, but smaller ones need laparoscopy for accurate diagnosis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and CT scan are another common imaging tests advised.
• Laparoscopy: It is a surgical procedure, where endometriotic patches can be seen by laparoscopic cameras. A laparoscopy is a surefire way to confirm a diagnosis of Endometriosis.
• Biopsy: It is the gold standard of diagnosis of endometriosis. Tissue obtained through laparoscopy is sent for biopsy which can confirm endometriosis.