Abstract:

Endometriosis (EMs) is a group of gynecologic disease defined by the presence of endometrial glandular epithelium and stroma outside the uterine lining. Recent studies suggest that EMs can affect women throughout their life cycle. Adolescent EMs is a special type of EMs which has attracted increasing attention in recent years. Among the most important risk factors for adolescent EMs are include genetic predisposition, co-presence of obstructive Müllerian anomalies, and higher levels of endogenous estrogens. There are many hypotheses for the pathogenesis of adolescent EMs, including retrograde menstruation theory, somatic epithelial metaplasia, hematogenous spread, lymphatic spread, neonatal uterine bleeding, immunologic theory and so on. Diagnosis depends on clinical symptoms, body sign, serology, imaging, surgery and pathology. Individualized medical and surgical treatment is considered the most effective strategy to relieve symptoms, inhibit disease progression, and protect future fertility. This article reviews the risk factors, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, diagnosis and treatment of adolescent EMs, in order to provide clinicians with a reference for the understanding and treatment of this disease.

Key words: Endometriosis, Puberty, Risk factors, Diagnosis, Therapy, Etiology