Stages of Endometriosis

Topic Overview

Staging is a way of describing how mild or severe a condition is. The stage of the endometriosis is determined by looking at the uterus , fallopian tubes , and ovaries and inside the abdomen and lower pelvic area. Usually, this is done with a viewing instrument inserted through a small incision in the belly ( laparoscopy ). But endometriosis is sometimes first found during surgery for an unrelated condition.

Endometriosis is classified in four stages:

• Stage I: minimal
• Stage II: mild
• Stage III: moderate
• Stage IV: severe

The stage of the endometriosis is based on the:

• Location of endometriosis growths (implants).
• Number of places the implants are found.
• Depth the implants penetrate into normal tissue.
• Severity of the scar tissue (adhesions) around the implants.