Open Access
Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd 2013; 73(9): 890-898
DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1350810
Guideline
GebFra Science
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Interdisciplinary S2k Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Endometriosis

Short Version – AWMF Registry No. 015–045, August 2013Interdisziplinäre S2k-Leitlinie für die Diagnostik und Therapie der EndometrioseKurzversion – AWMF-Register-Nummer: 015-045, August 2013
U. Ulrich
1   Klinik für Gynäkologie und Geburtshilfe, Martin-Luther-Krankenhaus, Berlin
,
O. Buchweitz
2   Tagesklinik Altonaer Straße, Hamburg
,
R. Greb
3   Kinderwunschzentrum Dortmund, Dortmund
,
J. Keckstein
4   Abteilung für Gynäkologie und Geburtshilfe, Landeskrankenhaus, Villach
,
I. von Leffern
5   Klinik für Gynäkologie und Geburtshilfe, Albertinen-Krankenhaus, Hamburg
,
P. Oppelt
6   Abteilung für Gynäkologie und Geburtshilfe, Landesfrauen- und Kinderklinik, Linz
,
S. P. Renner
7   Frauenklinik, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen
,
M. Sillem
8   Praxisklinik am Rosengarten, Mannheim
,
W. Stummvoll †
9   vormals Abteilung für Gynäkologie, Krankenhaus der Barmherzigen Schwestern, Linz
,
K.-W. Schweppe , for the Task Force Group “Endometriosis Guidelines” of the German and Austrian Societies for Obstetrics and Gynecology
10   Endometriosezentrum Ammerland, Westerstede
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Correspondence

Prof. Dr. Uwe Ulrich
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Martin Luther Hospital
Caspar-Theyss-Straße 27–31
14193 Berlin

 


DGGG-Leitliniensekretariat: Prof. Dr. med. Matthias W. Beckmann, DGGG-Leitlinienbeauftragter
Frauenklinik, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen
Universitätsstraße 21–23
91054 Erlangen
Phone: 0 91 31-85-3 35 07/4 40 63   
Fax: 0 91 31-85-3 39 51

Publication History

Publication Date:
11 October 2013 (online)

 

1 Information on these guidelines

1.1 Editors

German and Austrian Societies for Obstetrics and Gynecology (Deutsche und Österreichische Gesellschaften für Gynäkologie und Geburtshilfe), Association of the Scientific Medical Societies of Germany (Arbeitsgemeinschaft der wissenschaftlichen medizinischen Fachgesellschaften, AWMF).


1.2 Funding

Compilation of the present guidelines was partly financially supported by the German Society for Obstetrics and Gynecology and its Working Group Gynecologic Endoscopy (Arbeitsgemeinschaft Gynäkologische Endoskopie, AGE).


1.3 Lead professional organizations

German and Austrian Societies for Obstetrics and Gynecology (DGGG and OEGGG).


1.4 Contact

Prof. U. Ulrich, M. D., Martin Luther Hospital, Caspar-Theyss-Straße 27–31, 14 193 Berlin, Germany.


1.5 Additional information

The present short version is based on the full version of the S2k Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Endometriosis, accessible via internet as follows:

Additional information on the topic is available through:

  • Endometriosis Research Foundation (Stiftung Endometrioseforschung, http://www.endometriose-sef.de)

  • The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Clinical Green-Top Guidelines for the Investigation and Management of Endometriosis (http://www.rcog.org.uk/)

  • ESHRE Guideline for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Endometriosis (http://www.eshre.eu)

  • The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology Committee on Practice Bulletins (http://www.acog.org/)

  • Guidelines report of the present guidelines (see full version).


1.6 Responsibilities

1.6.1 Task Force Group for these guidelines

Directing author

Name

Place

Prof. Uwe Ulrich, M. D.

Berlin, Germany

Expert panel (Task Force Group Endometriosis Guidelines)

Name

Place

Olaf Buchweitz, M. D.

Hamburg, Germany

Radek Chvatal, M. D.

Znaim, Czech Republic

Prof. Rudy-Leon De Wilde, M. D.

Oldenburg, Germany

Prof. Andreas D. Ebert, M. D., Ph.D.

Berlin, Germany

Bruno Engl, M. D.

Bruneck, South Tyrol

Ingo von Leffern, M. D.

Hamburg, Germany

Prof. Robert Greb, M. D.

Dortmund, Germany

Gülden Halis, M. D.

Berlin, Germany

Dietmar Haas, M. D.

Linz, Austria

Prof. Jürgen Hucke, M. D.

Wuppertal, Germany

Prof. Jörg Keckstein, M. D.

Villach, Austria

Prof. Michel Müller, M. D.

Berne, Switzerland

Prof. Peter Oppelt, M. D.

Linz, Austria

Stefan P. Renner, M. D.

Erlangen, Germany

Martin Sillem, M. D.

Mannheim, Germany

Prof. Karl-Werner Schweppe, M. D.

Westerstede, Germany

Wolfgang Stummvoll†, M. D.

Linz, Austria

Prof. Hans-Rudolf Tinneberg, M. D.

Gießen, Germany

Frank Tuttlies, M. D.

Villach, Austria

Prof. Uwe Ulrich, M. D.

Berlin, Germany

Prof. Ludwig Wildt, M. D.

Innsbruck, Austria

Official representatives of the professional associations that have consented

Professional association

Name

Place

German Society for Obstetrics and Gynecology

Prof. Ludwig Kiesel, M. D.

Münster, Germany

Prof. Hans-Rudolf Tinneberg, M. D.

Giessen, Germany

German Society for General and Visceral Surgery

Prof. Jan Langrehr, M. D.

Berlin, Germany

German Society for Urology

Prof. Jürgen Geschwend, M. D.

Munich, Germany

German Society for Gynecologic Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine (Working Group of the DGGG)

Prof. Ludwig Kiesel, M. D.

Münster, Germany

Working Group Gynecologic Endoscopy (AGE/DGGG)

Prof. Uwe Ulrich, M. D.

Berlin, Germany

Working Group Gynecologic Oncology (AGO/DGGG)

Prof. Uwe Ulrich, M. D.

Berlin, Germany

German Society for Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynecology

Friederike Siedentopf, M. D.

Berlin, Germany

Swiss Society for Obstetrics and Gynecology

Prof. Michel Müller, M. D.

Berne, Switzerland

Austrian Society for Obstetrics and Gynecology

Prof. Jörg Keckstein, M. D.

Villach, Austria

Prof. Peter Oppelt, M. D.

Linz, Austria

Wolfgang Stummvoll†, M. D.

Linz, Austria

Prof. Ludwig Wildt, M. D.

Innsbruck, Austria

Czech Society for Obstetrics and Gynecology

Radek Chvatal, M. D.

Znaim, Chech Republic

Eduard Kucera, M. D.

Prague, Czech Republic

Endometriosis Research Foundation (SEF)

Prof. Karl-Werner Schweppe, M. D.

Westerstede, Germany

European Endometriosis League (EEL)

Prof. Hans-Rudolf Tinneberg, M. D.

Gießen, Germany

Stefan P. Renner, M. D.

Erlangen, Germany

Endometriosis Association Germany (self-help)

Dr. Heike Matuszewski

Berlin, Germany

Endometriosis Association Austria (self-help)

Katrin Steinberger

Vienna, Austria


1.6.2 Consulting

Monika Nothacker, M. D., Berlin, Germany (Association of the Scientific Medical Societies of Germany (Arbeitsgemeinschaft der wissenschaftlichen medizinischen Fachgesellschaften).



1.7 Abbreviations used in this paper

AFS: American Fertility Society
AGE: Arbeitsgemeinschaft Gynäkologische Endoskopie der DGGG (Working Group Gynecologic Endoscopy DGGG)
AGO: Arbeitsgemeinschaft Gynäkologische Onkologie der DGGG und der Deutschen Krebsgesellschaft (Working Group Gynecologic Oncology of the DGGG and the German Cancer Society)
CT: computed tomography
DGGG: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Gynäkologie und Geburtshilfe (German Society for Obstetrics and Gynecology)
DIE: deep infiltrating endometriosis
EEL: Europäische Endometriose Liga (European Endometriosis League)
ENZIAN: name of a hotel in Weissensee, Carinthia (Austria) where the classification of DIE was first established by an SEF expert group in 2002
GnRHa: gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog
HRT: hormone replacement therapy
ICSI: intracytoplasmatic sperm injection
IUD: intrauterine device
IUI: intrauterine Insemination
IVF: in-vitro fertilization
MRI: magnetic resonance imaging
OC: oral contraceptive (orales, hormonelles Antikonzeptivum)
OEGGG: Österreichische Gesellschaft für Gynäkologie und Geburtshilfe (Austrian Society for Obstetrics and Gynecology)
rASRM: (revised) American Society for Reproductive Medicine (-classification)
SEF: Stiftung Endometrioseforschung (Endometriosis Research Foundation)



2 Special Notes

While a companyʼs brand name, or a registered trade mark, respectively, are not necessarily given in the present paper, it must not be presumed that such name or mark was free.

As medical science is a rapidly developing field, informations and recommendations given in these guidelines do represent the state-of-the-art knowledge as it stands at the time of submission of the paper. Utmost care has been taken by the expert panel to extract that knowledge from the scientific literature as well as their personal experience. Having said that, the user remains fully liable for all applications based upon recommendations given in the present paper.

The readerʼs attention is drawn to the fact that oral contraceptives (OCs) and intrauterine levonorgestrel-releasing systems are not specifically approved in Germany for the treatment of endometriosis. Thus, their therapeutic application for the treatment of endometriosis is made off label.

Finally, this work is fully protected. Any use that infringes the law on copyright without written permission by the editors, authors, and copyright holders, respectively, is prohibited and considered a criminal offense. No part of these guidelines may be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the editors and authors. This applies to photocopies, translations, microfilms, and to the storage, use and processing on electronic media, intranets and the internet.


3 Introduction and General Comments

3.1 Definition and epidemiology

Statements:

  • Endometriosis – one of the most common gynecologic diseases – is defined as the occurence of endometrium-like cell formations outside the uterine cavity.

  • The cardinal symptom is chronic pelvic pain. Infertility is common.

There are about 20 000 hospital admissions per year for endometriosis in Germany (Haas et al. 2012). Pathologically and histologically, endometriosis is a benign disease. However, infiltrative growth into adjacent organs is possible requiring extensive surgical procedures.


3.2 Etiology, pathology, and staging

Statement:

Etiology and pathogenesis of endometriosis are not fully understood. Therefore, a causal therapy is not known to date.

Recommendation:

All staging systems known to date have their limitations. In order to ensure the international comparability of data, the use of the rASRM staging system – and in cases of deep infiltrating endometriosis the additional use of the ENZIAN classification – is recommended.

Endometriosis and malignancy

Statements:

  • In rare cases, malignancy – usually ovarian cancer – may arise from endometriosis.

  • Aside from this, the association of other, non-gynecologic malignancies with endometriosis has been described in the literature. The clinical significance of this observation is not understood.




4 Diagnosis and Treatment of Endometriosis

Statements:

  • Indications for endoscopic diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis are as follows:

    • Chronic pelvic pain,

    • Destruction of organs, and/or

    • Infertility.

  • For control of symptoms, the surgical removal of endometriotic lesions is considered as “gold standard” (Abbott et al. 2004, Deguara et al. 2012, Garry 2004).

Recommendations:

In general, the diagnosis of endometriosis is to be established histologically. Hence, diagnostic laparoscopy is essential for the diagnostic work-up (Walter et al. 2001).

4.1 General comments

Some affected women have no symptoms. Also, there is no correlation between stage of the disease and grade of symptoms. Asymptomatic endometriosis in a woman without infertility is no indication of surgical or other medical interventions (exception: endometriosis-related hydronephrosis). Almost every woman with symptomatic endometriosis suffers from dysmenorrhea. If this cardinal symptom is lacking, other differential diagnoses are to be considered (see Guidelines for Chronic Pelvic Pain in Women, AWMF Registry No. 016–001, Sillem u. Teichmann 2003, Siedentopf et al. 2009).


4.2 Peritoneal endometriosis

Statements:

  • The diagnosis of peritoneal endometriosis is made laparoscopically.

  • Treatment of choice is the laparoscopic removal of the implants.

Recommendation:

Following hormonal suppression of the ovarian function, endometriotic implants may undergo regression. For the reduction of endometriosis-associated symptoms, progestins, OCs, or GnRH analogs may be used in order to induce therapeutic amenorrhea (Abou-Setta et al. Cochrane Review 2013, Brown et al. Cochrane Review 2012, Allen et al. Cochrane Review 2009).


4.3 Ovarian endometriosis (endometriomas)

Statement:

The diagnosis of ovarian endometriomas is primarily made by transvaginal ultrasound.

Recommendations:

  • For primary treatment of ovarian endometriomas, the cyst wall should be removed surgically. Fenestration alone is considered insufficient.

  • Endocrine drug treatment alone is neither effective in eliminating an ovarian endometrioma (and, consequently, to replace its surgical removal) – nor in compensating for incomplete surgical removal. Therefore, it is not recommended.

Differential diagnosis

In ovarian endometriomas, often a typical echogenic pattern is found (Hudelist et al. 2009b). However, there are also sonographically complex ovarian masses with heterogeneous appearance making it sometimes difficult to differentiate between functional ovarian cysts on the one side and dermoid cysts, kystomas, or ovarian malignant neoplasms on the other side. If a laparoscopic approach is scheduled in unclear ovarian findings, the DGGG S1 Guidelines for Laparoscopic Surgery of Ovarian Tumors apply (AWMF Registry No. 015–003). Any unclear ovarian mass must be clarified histologically.

As the CA-125 level in endometriosis patients is consistently elevated, its assessment is not recommended routinely. The same applies to the serum level of human epididymal protein (HE4, Lenhard et al. 2011, Zheng and Gao 2012).



4.4 Deep infiltrating endometriosis

Statements:

  • Deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) is defined as involvement of the rectovaginal septum, vaginal fornix, retroperitoneum (pelvic side wall, parametrium), bowel, ureters, and urinary bladder.

  • The primary diagnosis of DIE is made clinically with rectovaginal palpation, inspection with divided specula, vaginal ultrasound, and transabdominal ultrasound of the kidneys being mandatory.

Recommendations:

  • For treatment, complete resection of DIE should be performed. Nonetheless, compromises must be made as preservation of fertility often is imperative. Considering that the disease is benign and potentially relevant complications may occur, the extent of resection should be thoroughly discussed and agreed upon with the patient.

  • Treatment of DIE should be carried out in specialized centers with a multidisciplinary approach (Ebert et al. 2013).

  • If patients with DIE are to be managed conservatively – as well as pre- and postoperatively – sonographic examination of the kidneys is mandatory in order to avoid overlooking silent hydronephrosis. DIE-associated hydronephrosis is an absolute indication of appropriate diagnosis and treatment.

Hormone replacement therapy in patients with endometriosis

Premenopausal patients who have undergone hysterectomy because of endometriosis – proper indication provided – should receive a combined estrogen-progestin HRT. In postmenopause, in view of the fact that there is a potential risk of malignancy (see paragraph on endometriosis-associated malignancy), combined estrogen-progestin HRT – or tibolone – is recommended as well (Moen et al. 2010, Soliman and Hillard 2006). Nonetheless, the problem of breast cancer risk has to be balanced against that – and an individual decision made together with the patient (see also S3 Guidelines for HRT in the peri- and postmenopause, AWMF Registry No. 015–062).


4.5 Adenomyosis

Statement:

The diagnosis of adenomyosis is primarily established clinically by vaginal ultrasonography and/or MRI. Most often, it is only the histological result after hysterectomy that is proving.

Recommendations:

  • Given completion of family planning and presence of respective symptoms, hysterectomy can be recommended.

  • If the patient opts for preservation of the uterus, a therapeutic amenorrhea may be induced, or a progestin-releasing IUD inserted (Garcia and Isaacson 2011).



5 Endometriosis and Infertility

Statements:

  • While a causal relationship has not been resolved yet, endometriosis and infertility are often associated.

  • For the treatment of women with both endometriosis and infertility, appropriate skills and experience in infertility surgery, as well as cooperation with centers for reproductive medicine are required.

Recommendations:

  • In women with both infertility and endometriosis, the implants should be surgically removed for the improvement of fertility.

  • In cases of recurrence, assisted reproductive technologies are superior to repeated surgery in terms of pregnancy rate. In repeat operations for ovarian endometriosis, the surgery-related reduction of ovarian reserve is to be considered.

  • Postoperative treatment with GnRH analogs was ineffective in improving spontaneous pregnancy rates and is, therefore, not recommended.

  • Any drug treatment for endmetriosis alone does not improve fertility and should not be applied from a reproductive-medicine perspective.


6 Psychosomatic Aspects

Recommendation:

Psychosomatic aspects in the treatment of patients with endometriosis should be considered and integrated early on.


7 Complementary and Integrative Treatment Approaches

No statements, no recommendations.


8 Rehabilitation, Follow-up, and Self-help

Statement:

After extensive surgery – especially for deep infiltrating endometriosis, after repeat endometriosis operations, or in patients with chronic pain, there often is a need for rehabilitation.

Recommendation:

This need mentioned should be assessed, and measures of rehabilitation, or after-care, respectively, be initiated.




Correspondence

Prof. Dr. Uwe Ulrich
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Martin Luther Hospital
Caspar-Theyss-Straße 27–31
14193 Berlin

 


DGGG-Leitliniensekretariat: Prof. Dr. med. Matthias W. Beckmann, DGGG-Leitlinienbeauftragter
Frauenklinik, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen
Universitätsstraße 21–23
91054 Erlangen
Phone: 0 91 31-85-3 35 07/4 40 63   
Fax: 0 91 31-85-3 39 51