How To Know if You Have Endometriosis

The uterus is lined with endometrial lining that supports healthy pregnancy development. Endometriosis is a condition that causes similar tissue to grow on ovaries, fallopian tubes, intestines, or other places outside the uterus. The MyReceptiva™ test can be used to help detect endometriosis. Here are some ways to know if you are experiencing endometriosis:

Physical Symptoms

Endometriosis impacts many women of reproductive age around the world. Common symptoms include pelvic, abdominal, bladder, or bowel pain. Almost half of all pelvic pain women experience is primarily caused by endometriosis. Pain before or after sexual activity, family history of the condition, excessive bleeding during or in between menstrual cycles, and a high body mass index are other possible symptoms. 

One of the main symptoms of endometriosis is infertility. In cases known as silent endometriosis, infertility is the only symptom. This disease is responsible for a significant portion of infertility cases in women. Women aged 34 or under, those who are 35 and over and have not conceived after six to 12 months of trying, and women who have experienced one or more miscarriages in the first 13 weeks of pregnancy may be experiencing endometriosis.

BCL6 Detection

Uterine inflammation is associated with endometriosis. BCL6 is a protein marker that is present if there is uterine inflammation. High levels of BCL6 are present in the uterine lining in many symptomatic and asymptomatic cases. If the patient has normal endometrial tissue, BCL6 will not usually be detected. 

MyReceptiva™ is a test that checks for the BCL6 marker. It has a 93% sensitivity and 96% specificity rate. A trained women’s healthcare specialist can take an endometrial biopsy during a standard office visit. After the specialist collects a sample of cells from the uterine lining, they send it to our lab. Our lab technicians test the sample and send the results to the patient’s physician within seven to ten business days. 

A positive result for BCL6 means there is at least a 90% chance of endometriosis. With a negative result, there is less than a 7% chance that a laparoscopy procedure would detect the disease. Negative BCL6 results mean that endometriosis may not be the cause of fertility issues.

Laparoscopy

A laparoscopy is a surgical procedure where a physician uses a scope to detect endometrial tissue growth outside the womb. It is the most accurate method of detecting and diagnosing the disease. A laparoscopy procedure can also be performed to treat the condition. During the laparoscopy, a doctor can remove cysts, adhesions, scar tissue, and other physical signs of the disease. Receiving a positive result with the MyReceptiva™ test provides patients with information that can help them decide whether to undergo laparoscopy or other fertility treatments.

Get the MyReceptiva Test for Endometriosis

Patients can order our MyReceptiva™ kit online and take it to their OB-GYN office to collect the tissue sample. We offer a downloadable document with information on how to discuss endometriosis and the MyReceptiva™ test with your healthcare provider. If you have additional questions about the MyReceptiva™ test, schedule a free 20-minute phone consultation or email us through our online form.