Did you know that it takes between 4 and 11 years for a woman to receive a correct endometriosis diagnosis? While there are many reasons behind this unfortunate delay, one of the primary ones is that no two women follow the same endometriosis pattern.
The good news for the 1 in 10 women around the world who has endometriosis is that once the diagnosis is made, there are some effective treatment options.
Since March is Endometriosis Awareness Month, Dr. Fernando Otero and our team at Women’s Clinic of the Rio Grande Valley want to review these treatment options, all of which we offer here at our practice.
With endometriosis, endometrial cells and tissues grow outside the uterus. We still don’t know why this occurs, which means that there is no cure.
Depending on where these tissues and cells grow, women can experience a wide range of symptoms, but one of the more common complaints is pelvic pain. This pain can be a constant dull ache, or it might flare with your periods or with intercourse. Pelvic pain associated with endometriosis can even lead to discomfort during urination, if endometrial tissues grow around the bladder.
So, one of our top priorities for patients with endometriosis is to help them find relief, which we can do through medications as well as heat packs and other methods.
The excess endometrial tissue growth is linked to fluctuations in your hormones. So, we often turn to hormone therapies that can prevent or slow the misplaced growth of this tissue. When we say hormone therapies, we’re referring to hormonal birth controls.
If you’re trying to get pregnant (which rules out hormone therapies) or you’re experiencing ongoing pain despite medications, surgery is a good solution for problematic endometriosis.
We use the latest minimally invasive surgical techniques to remove troublesome endometrial tissue that’s causing discomfort or interfering with your ability to get pregnant.
While there are many reasons why women choose a hysterectomy, endometriosis is a common one. In fact, about 12% of women in the United States who have endometriosis opt for a hysterectomy to put an end to the problem, once and for all.
This hysterectomy might include removing other reproductive organs, such as your ovaries if they’re involved. Rest assured, here again, we use minimally invasive surgical techniques whenever that’s available. By using laparoscopy, we can reduce certain risks and shorten your recovery time.
The best way to figure out which endometriosis treatment is right for you is to pay us a visit so we can evaluate your condition and your goals. Once we have a better idea, we can work toward improving your quality of life and putting endometriosis in the rearview mirror.
For expert and experienced endometriosis care, please contact one of our offices in McAllen or Edinburg, Texas., to schedule an appointment.
