Premenstrual spotting is an important characteristic sign of endometriosis. It usually takes the form of dark or brown staining or spotting lasting more than 12 hours prior to menstruation beginning normally. This association has been known about for some time but has not been well appreciated by doctors or gynaecologists. There appears to be a high correlation with the presence of this spotting and endometriosis and certainly in my practice I have found this to be the case. Professor Robert Jansen who was the founder of Sydney IVF (now Genea) in his book “Getting Pregnant” mentions this phenomenon which was originally described as an association almost 30 years ago by Dr Ann Wentz and her colleagues in Memphis, Tennessee. The spotting may possibly be explained by the abnormalities found within the normal endometrium of people with endometriosis and may offer some explanation for infertility.
It is unknown whether surgical treatment of the endometriosis improves the situation or not.