Prevalence of endometriosis among women undergoing diagnostic laparoscopy at a tertiary hospital in North-Western Nigeria

Background: Endometriosis is a complex gynecological disease in its physiopathological aspects and clinical implications. Signs and symptoms include pain and subfertility. The most common sites are pelvic organs and peritoneum. This study evaluated the prevalence of endometriosis among women undergoing diagnostic laparoscopy for chronic pelvic pain and infertility at a tertiary hospital in North-Western Nigeria over a 3-year period (from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2017). Materials and Methods: A retrospective study of women who had diagnostic laparoscopy for chronic pelvic pain and infertility in our hospital was conducted. Theater operation register records and files of women who had laparoscopy for the same indications were retrieved and reviewed. Information on sociodemographic and reproductive characteristics as well as laparoscopic findings were extracted and reviewed. Results: The total number of women who had laparoscopy for the above indications over the study period was 92, of which 74 files were retrieved and analyzed. The prevalence of endometriosis was found to be 8.1%. Endometriosis was found to be more common in women whose complaint was chronic pelvic pain and/or dysmenorrhea. Conclusion: Endometriosis is a common, underreported gynecologic condition among women of reproductive age group presenting with infertility and chronic pelvic pain.