Endometriosis

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• 0:00What endometriosis is
• 0:26What we don't know
• 0:39Medication and surgery
• 1:05Diagnosis and imaging
• 1:19Next steps

Full transcript

1. 0:00What endometriosis is

   Endometriosis is a complex condition that we honestly don't fully understand ourselves. What we know is that the lining of the uterus, which is called the endometrium, is usually only found in the middle of the uterus, in the cavity. But in patients with endometriosis, we'll sometimes find it scattered outside of the uterus throughout the pelvis. So, for example, we'll find it on the tubes or the ovaries or even the bowel or bladder. Rarely, it's been found in sites outside of the pelvis and abdomen, like the lung.

2. 0:26What we don't know

   So we're not quite sure how that happens, unfortunately. We have some theories, but what we do know is the best practices for treating it.

3. 0:39Medication and surgery

   Oftentimes, the first step is to manage a patient's pain through pain relievers, but also giving hormones of different types can help suppress those implants and thin them out. So every month when a woman has her period, her pain will not be as extreme as it is without these. Sometimes we have to resort to surgical treatment, which includes procedures such as laparoscopy to clean out the disease, which will often help patients a lot.

4. 1:05Diagnosis and imaging

   Not everybody needs surgery. We will always start with getting a full history and doing imaging tests like pelvic ultrasound and MRI to help figure out if you do have it. We are here for you to guide you through the process.

5. 1:19Next steps

   Please give us a call and we can take this conversation into deeper levels.