Endometriosis: its association with retrograde menstruation, dysmenorrhoea and tubal pathology.

Seventy-five women admitted for sterilization were laparoscoped during menstruation. Retrograde spillage of menstrual blood was observed in 76%. The occurrence of dysmenorrhoea was not associated with spillage of menstrual blood, observed endometriosis or tubal pathology. Mild or stage I endometriosis was detected in 43% of all the women but in only 54% of those who had retrograde spill. Retrograde spill was seen in 97% of those with endometriosis. A significant association (P less than 0.001) was found between endometriosis and tubal damage not due to endometriosis. The implication of these findings are discussed.