Endometriosis Specialist

What is endometriosis?

Endometriosis is a woman’s health problem that occurs when the tissue of your uterine lining grows outside of the womb. It can attach to other reproductive organs, such as your ovaries, fallopian tubes, and the outer surface of the uterus. In some cases, endometrial tissue can grow inside the vagina, bladder, bowel, or rectum.

What are the symptoms of endometriosis?

One of the most common symptoms of endometriosis is painful cramping and heavy bleeding with your period. This is because the endometrial tissue that grows outside your uterus still tries to shed just as if it were inside your womb, but it usually has nowhere to exit your body.

Other symptoms include:

• Pain during sexual intercourse
• Pain with bowel movements or during urination
• Infertility
• Bleeding or spotting between periods

You may also have chronic pain in your low back and pelvis due to endometriosis.

How is endometriosis diagnosed?

Your symptoms may suggest endometriosis, and in some cases, Dr. De Leon or Dr. Nguyen-Luu can detect endometrial tissue during a pelvic exam. Imaging tests can rule out other causes, such as fibroids, for your symptoms. The only definitive way to diagnose endometriosis is with laparoscopic surgery, which is minimally invasive but allows the doctors to view tissue and take samples for confirmation.

How is endometriosis treated?

Dr. De Leon and Dr. Nguyen-Luu work with your individual case to make sure you understand all of the options available to you. Treatment for endometriosis also depends on the severity of your symptoms and your level of discomfort.

If you’re not planning to have children, hormonal birth control can sometimes control growth and moderate your symptoms. If you do wish to become pregnant, surgery or other hormonal interventions may be recommended.

For example, you may be prescribed a gonadotropin-releasing hormone that puts you into temporary menopause to control the growth of endometrial tissue. When you stop taking the medicine after a few months, your menstrual cycle resumes, and you may have a bone of the offices or book an appointment online today to find relief.