In some aspects, the disclosure relates to methods for screening clinical samples for the presence of L-form bacteria associated with endometriosis and/or ovarian fibroid tumors. The disclosure is based, in part, on screening methods used to diagnose a subject as likely having or likely not having endometriosis and/or an ovarian fibroid tumor. In some embodiments, the disclosure relates to methods of treating endometriosis by administering an antibiotic to a subject that has been determined to be infected by one or more strains of L-form bacteria.
