Adolescent Endometriosis and Chronic Pelvic Pain

In: Current Obstetrics and Gynecology Reports · 2026 · vol. 15(1) · doi:10.1007/s13669-026-00463-3 · W7144268608
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This review explores recent advances in understanding adolescent endometriosis and its role in chronic pelvic pain, covering symptom patterns, pain mechanisms, and multimodal treatment approaches.

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This paper is a narrative review examining adolescent endometriosis and its relationship to chronic pelvic pain, using high-level synthesis of evidence on symptom patterns, proposed mechanisms of pain, and treatment approaches. It reports growing support for earlier, largely noninvasive clinical diagnosis in adolescents rather than routinely delaying care for surgical confirmation, while noting that specialized imaging and biomarkers still lack the sensitivity to definitively rule out endometriosis and are not yet validated in this population. The review also highlights central sensitization and biopsychosocial factors as contributors to pain persistence, which may explain overlap between endometriosis symptoms and chronic pelvic pain. This paper is centrally about endometriosis in adolescents and chronic pelvic pain.

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Abstract

Purpose of Review Adolescent endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain frequently overlap but represent distinct clinical entities requiring thoughtful diagnostic and management approach. This review summarizes recent advances in understanding adolescent endometriosis and its role in chronic pelvic pain, a condition frequently underrecognized and associated with significant diagnostic delay. We discuss emerging evidence regarding symptom patterns, mechanisms of pain, and treatment approaches. Recent Findings Increasing evidence supports a shift towards a noninvasive clinical diagnosis of endometriosis in adolescents rather than delaying treatment for surgical confirmation. Specialized imaging and biomarkers show promise for identifying later stage disease; they currently lack the sensitivity to definitively rule out endometriosis and are not yet validated in this population. Emerging data highlights the role of central sensitization and biopsychosocial factors in pain persistence, explaining why symptoms of endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain coexist and warrant multimodal management. Summary Chronic pelvic pain and endometriosis require comprehensive evaluation and management approaches that combine hormonal therapy, specialized surgery, and adjunctive treatments like pelvic floor physical therapy. Early intervention optimizes care and may mitigate long-term consequences on reproductive health and psychological well-being. Similar content being viewed by others Data Availability No datasets were generated or analysed during the current study.

References

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Additional information Publisher’s Note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Rights and permissions Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law. About this article Cite this article Batchelor, J.L., Mallinder, H., Deans, R. et al. Adolescent Endometriosis and Chronic Pelvic Pain. Curr Obstet Gynecol Rep 15, 9 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13669-026-00463-3 Received: Accepted: Published: Version of record: DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13669-026-00463-3

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