Endometriosis in Fountain Valley, CA
What Happens When You Have Endometriosis?
Did you know that having severe cramps is not a normal part of your period? If you find that your period has you canceling work yet again while doubled over in pain, then you could be dealing with more than just a rough menstrual cycle. You could be dealing with Endometriosis.
Endometriosis occurs when the endometrium or uterine lining grows outside the uterus, often affecting the ovaries, pelvis and fallopian tubes. Sometimes the tissue may even cause adhesions outside the pelvis, impacting the intestines, bowel, and rectum.
Symptoms of Endometriosis
Unfortunately, Endometriosis isn’t always easy to recognize or diagnose, which leads to a lot of women experiencing problems for years before discovering they have this gynecological condition. We want to help make it easier for women to get a diagnosis so they can also get the treatment they need to make their symptoms more manageable.
Symptoms of Endometriosis may include:
1. Severe cramps
2. Pain with sex
3. Pain with bowel movements
4. Infertility
In order to diagnose Endometriosis, we may recommend a variety of tests, including a pelvic exam, imaging studies (e.g. ultrasound) and a laparoscopy, a specialized surgery that allows us to actually evaluate the pelvis and possibly confirm Endometriosis. While there is no cure for Endometriosis, this condition can be properly managed in most cases with medication. Women who are not trying to get pregnant may find relief from their symptoms by taking hormonal birth control or placing an intrauterine device (IUD) or other methods available to them.
Women who are trying to get pregnant may benefit from taking a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist, a medication that reduces the amount of Endometriosis growth. This medication is only taken for a short period of time but can provide relief. Sometimes surgery is necessary if your endometriosis symptoms are severe and aren’t responding to other nonsurgical treatment options. During surgery abnormal tissue is removed from areas outside the uterus. Hormonal therapy may also be recommended after surgery to manage symptoms more long term.