Laparoscopic management of peritoneal endometriosis, endometriotic cysts, and rectovaginal adenomyosis.

Peritoneal endometriosis is probably caused by the implantation of regurgitated menstrual cells. The ovarian endometrioma is the consequence of non-hormone-regulated bleeding from intraovarian epithelial inclusions after they have undergone metaplasia into endometrial-like tissue. Rectovaginal adenomyosis is, in fact, an adenomyotic lesion and can develop from Müllerian rests. In conclusion, peritoneal endometriosis, ovarian endometriosis, and rectovaginal adenomyotic nodules must be considered as three separate entities with different pathogeneses that require a different therapeutic approach.