A long-term follow-up study of women with asymptomatic endometriosis diagnosed incidentally at sterilization

<bold>Objective: </bold>To evaluate whether asymptomatic endometriosis diagnosed in connection with tubal sterilization is likely to cause symptoms later in the woman's life.<bold>Design: </bold>Controlled, clinical follow-up study of women who were examined for endometriosis in connection with tubal sterilization performed between 1986 and 1989.<bold>Setting: </bold>University hospital.<bold>Patient(s): </bold>Thirty-nine women with mostly minimal endometriosis discovered at sterilization and 157 control women with no endometriosis discovered at sterilization.<bold>Intervention(s): </bold>Interview in 2001 by a posted questionnaire.<bold>Main Outcome Measure(s): </bold>Report on pain, pelvic operations, menopausal status, and use of hormone replacement therapy.<bold>Result(s): </bold>Pelvic pain was more frequently reported by controls than by women with endometriosis (28% vs. 6%). There was no significant difference between the groups concerning dysmenorrhea, premenstrual pain, or dyspareunia, nor was there any significant difference in the hysterectomy rate.<bold>Conclusion(s): </bold>There is little risk that asymptomatic, minimal endometriosis found incidentally will become symptomatic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]