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Due to increasing life expectancy, women spend a significant part of their lives in menopause. Women with a history of endometriosis are more likely to become menopausal at an early age due to bilateral oophorectomy or repeated ovarian surgery. In addition, some medical therapies used for endometriosis, such as gonadotropin releasing hormone agonists or progestins reduce bone mineral density. Furthermore, women with endometriosis have a higher background risk of cardiovascular disorders and hypercholesterolemia. Hence, it is important to recommend the use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to these women when they become menopausal, at least until the age of natural menopause. Although based on limited data, there is a possibility of reactivation of symptoms of endometriosis or its lesions, and a theoretical possibility of malignant transformation, although this remains unproven. Therefore, women should be advised in the light of this information before starting HRT after the age of natural menopause and are asked to seek help if they experience symptoms that may indicate these changes. Estrogen only HRT should be avoided and combined HRT preparations should be recommended, even after a hysterectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endometriosis is a common finding in adolescents who have a history of chronic pelvic pain or dysmenorrhoea resistant to medical treatment, however the exact prevalence is unknown. Both early/superficial and advanced forms of endometriosis are found in adolescents, including ovarian endometriomas and deep endometriotic lesions. Whilst spontaneous resolution is possible, recent reports suggest that adolescent endometriosis can be a progressive condition, at least in a significant proportion of cases. It is also claimed that deep endometriosis has its roots in adolescence. Optimum treatment is far from clear and long term recurrence is still a significant problem. The most frequently reported treatment approach in the published literature is a combination of surgery and postoperative hormonal treatment with the combined oral contraceptives, progestins, levonorgestrel intrauterine system or gonadotrophin releasing hormone analogues. Use of gonadotrophin releasing hormone analogues and long term progestins should be carefully considered due to concerns over continuing bone formation in this age group. There is currently no consensus as to whether surgery should be avoided as much as possible to prevent multiple operations in the long term, or surgical treatment should be considered at an early stage before more severe lesions develop. Further research is required to determine which approach would offer a better long term outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]