Requests for advanced gynaecological ultrasound for patients being prepared for laparoscopy for endometriosis are not routine despite the potential benefit, survey results suggest.

Only about half of Australian and New Zealand obstetricians and gynaecologists responding to a survey regularly requested the imaging, despite it being recommended in expert consensus advice and potentially sparing women from a second procedure, investigators say.

The team emailed all fellows and trainees of RANZCOG in May 2016 with 437 of the specialists (17%) responding to the survey questions about imaging choices in the preoperative work-up of women with suspected endometriosis.

The specialists were asked whether they would order advanced gynaecological ultrasound in line with the International Deep Endometriosis Analysis Group consensus statement detailing a systematic approach to pelvic sonography in women suspected to have the condition.