Abstract
27 patients with rectal endometriosis were operated upon in Turku University Central Hospital in 1967–1976. The main symptom was defecation pain especially during menstruation. Eighteen patients had had previous surgery for endometriosis of the pelvic area. A palpable tumor was found on gynaecological examination in every patient. The tumors did not grow through the rectal wall. Three kinds of operative procedures were applied (a simple excision method, a so called “window” operation, and resection of rectum) and the results were good.