The diagnosis and treatment of intestinal infiltrating endometriosis represents one of the most difficult challenges for an Endometriosis Unit, where such patients should be mandatorily referred. It is a condition that can be both asymptomatic and debilitating the quality of life of affected women, and which intersects with crucial issues such as reproductive desire and pelvic visceral functions. Correct treatment can indeed lead to a significant improvement in the quality of life but is not without long-term risk in terms of rectal, bladder and sexual dysfunctions, as well as peri-operative surgical complications.
The techniques of shaving, discoid resection and segmental resection should not be considered alternatives but distinct and each finds specific indications for specific subsets of patients taking into account on the size of the lesion, the depth of infiltration and patients symptoms.

Keywords: endometriosis; bowel resection; laparoscopy; bowel shaving; discoid resection.