Bladder endometriosis can occur in the anterior (front) compartment of the pelvis. Lesions in this area are likely to cause a number of symptoms including:
- reduced bladder capacity (leading to emptying the bladder frequently)
- cyclical bladder or suprapubic pain
- cyclical haematuria (blood in the urine)
- general bladder irritation – also seen in patients with interstitial cystitis
- pain radiating to the front of leg (anterior thigh).
The diagnosis of bladder endometriosis is more difficult to establish by ultrasound scan. If the index of suspicion is high, then a cystoscopy (camera in the bladder) combined with a diagnostic laparoscopy will provide all the answers.
Treatment of bladder endometriosis is usually completed at laparoscopy. In relatively uncommon situations a combined procedure with a urologist may be necessary, where a small portion of the bladder wall is removed. Again, this can all be achieved by laparoscopy and would necessitate only a short in-hospital stay, with removal of a catheter seven to ten days after the original surgery.
