Living with endometriosis often means navigating a complex path toward a diagnosis. A recent survey of 142 women and gender-diverse individuals found that many patients are still unsure about the tools available to diagnose the condition before surgery. While 53.5% of participants knew that surgery is not the only way to find endometriosis, many were less familiar with specific imaging techniques.
When it comes to bowel involvement specifically, awareness dropped significantly. Only 32.4% of people knew that bowel endometriosis could be diagnosed before surgery. Furthermore, only 35% knew about the use of MRI, 32% knew about ultrasound, and only 15% were aware of CT scans or colonoscopies as options.
Most people gathered their information from gynecologists (71.8%) and social media (68.3%). However, the study notes that social media can sometimes spread incorrect information. These findings suggest a gap between what patients know and the medical evidence available regarding pre-surgical imaging.
