What finding is commonly associated with a diagnosis of endometriosis in a patient with pelvic pain?

Cervical motion tenderness is a key finding often associated with endometriosis, especially in patients presenting with pelvic pain. This tenderness is typically elicited during a pelvic examination when movement of the cervix causes discomfort, indicating inflammation or irritation in the pelvic area, which is common in conditions like endometriosis. The presence of endometrial-like tissue outside the uterus can lead to adhesions and inflammation, contributing to the sensitivity observed during the examination.

While pelvic mass can be present in some cases of endometriosis, it is not universally found and is more characteristic of certain types of cysts or larger lesions. Fever is not a classical symptom associated with endometriosis; it is more indicative of an infection. Severe discharge is also not a common characteristic of endometriosis and is more associated with infectious processes. Thus, cervical motion tenderness stands out as a classic and clinically significant finding in diagnosing endometriosis.