The sum of the component scores across all anatomic sites defines the total score, which is used to determine the complexity stage.

The 3 cut points along the distribution of the AAGL total score were chosen using receiver operating characteristic curves to create 4 stages within the AAGL scoring system that most closely corresponded with the 4-level scale of surgical complexity for endometriosis designed to categorize each surgery on the basis of its highest-complexity task.