Endometriosis Specialist

What is endometriosis?

Endometriosis is a condition in which the endometrium, which is the tissue lining the inside of the uterus, begins to grow outside the uterus. Patches of endometriosis most often grow on the outer wall of the uterus or on the fallopian tubes or ovaries. However, the tissue can develop on the bladder, bowel, and anywhere in the abdominal cavity.

The endometrium normally responds to hormonal changes that occur during your monthly cycles, first thickening and then shedding to cause your menstrual period if you don’t become pregnant.

Patches of endometriosis respond the same way, but when it’s time for your period, they bleed inside your pelvis. As a result, the surrounding organs become inflamed and scarred.

What symptoms develop if I have endometriosis?

Although some women don’t have any symptoms, endometriosis is known for causing pain, including:

• Pelvic pain
• Painful periods
• Pain the week before your period
• Painful intercourse
• Pain during urination
• Pain when you have a bowel movement

Endometriosis is also one of the top causes of infertility. Some women don’t learn they have endometriosis until they go in for an infertility evaluation because they can’t get pregnant.

How is endometriosis treated?

Your doctor at OB-GYN Associates of Marietta determines your treatment based on the severity of your symptoms, the extent of your endometriosis, and whether you want to have children. There are two approaches to treatment: medication and surgery.

Medication

Your doctor may prescribe one of several medications that slow the growth of endometrial tissue, prevent new patches of endometriosis from forming, and help relieve your pain. However, these medications can’t get rid of existing endometrial tissues.

Examples of possible medications include:

• Extended-cycle birth control pills, so you’ll only have a few periods during the year
• Continuous-cycle birth control pills that make your periods stop
• Progestin-containing IUD or birth control pills to reduce or stop your periods
• Danazol to stop the release of hormones so you have few or no periods
• Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists that prevent ovulation, menstruation, and new growth of endometriosis

GnRH agonists are effective, but they can only be taken for a limited amount of time due

Surgery

When your pain is severe, you can’t continue taking medications, or you want to improve your fertility, your doctor may perform a minimally invasive laparoscopy to remove the patches of endometriosis. During the procedure, your doctor may excise (cut out) the patches or destroy them using heat.

If your endometriosis is severe, and you’re sure you don’t want to have more children, you may also consider a hysterectomy to remove your uterus and possibly your ovaries.

If you suffer from pelvic pain, call OB-GYN Associates of Marietta or book an appointment online.