Bowel Endometriosis: From Gastrointestinal Symptoms to Diagnosis and Management

A complex disease with a long diagnostic journey

Bowel endometriosis is a severe manifestation of deep endometriosis in which endometrial-like tissue infiltrates the bowel wall, most commonly the rectum and rectosigmoid colon. It affects approximately 8–12% of women with endometriosis and frequently occurs alongside lesions in other pelvic organs. Symptoms can range from minimal or absent to severe pelvic and gastrointestinal dysfunction, yet diagnostic delays commonly exceed 7–10 years.