Endometriosis Stages: What Stage 1-4 Really Means
Endometriosis is staged 1 (minimal) through 4 (severe) based on the location, depth, and extent of lesions and scar tissue found during surgery. Importantly, stage does not equal pain: some women with stage 1 have severe symptoms, while others with stage 4 have few.
The four stages explained
Staging describes the physical extent of disease, not how much you suffer.
- Stage 1 (Minimal): few superficial lesions, little to no scar tissue.
- Stage 2 (Mild): more and slightly deeper lesions.
- Stage 3 (Moderate): deeper lesions with adhesions on ovaries or fallopian tubes.
- Stage 4 (Severe): widespread deep lesions and dense adhesions.
Know what your body needs, every day
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Know what your body needs, every day
PhaseBloom turns your cycle into a day-by-day plan for how to eat, move, rest, and care for your skin, so you stop guessing and start working with your hormones.
Frequently asked questions
Does stage of endometriosis affect pain?
Not necessarily. Some women with stage 1 have debilitating pain, while others with stage 4 have minimal symptoms. Staging reflects anatomical spread, not symptom severity.
How is endometriosis staged?
Staging is determined during laparoscopic surgery based on where lesions are found, how deep they are, and how much scar tissue is present. It cannot be determined by ultrasound alone.