Endometriosis Symptoms and Diagnosis
Dr. Marc Kalan and Dr. Nurit Winkler can help men and women who suffer from different kinds of fertility issues. Our infertility treatment specialists in Encino, Bakersfield, and Los Angeles, CA can diagnose your issue and develop an ideal treatment plan for you and your needs.
If you or someone you know suffers from endometriosis, we can help them overcome their infertility. The team at the Los Angeles Reproductive Center would like to go over the signs and symptoms of endometriosis so you understand what the condition involves and how it can be dealt with.
What Is Endometriosis?
Endometriosis is a painful condition in which the tissue that normally lines the inside of the uterus develops outside of the uterus. This means that a soft tissue lining forms every month as part of a woman's monthly cycle. Since this tissue cannot escape the body, it is trapped and irritates the surrounding tissues and internal organs. This can lead to cysts, scar tissue, pelvic adhesions, and all sorts of health and fertility problems.
Common Signs and Symptoms of Endometriosis
The most common signs and symptoms of endometriosis include:
- Pain before, during, and after your menstrual cycle
- Excessive bleeding/flow during and between menstrual cycles
- Painful intercourse
- Pain when urinating
- Pain when moving your bowels
- Fatigue
- Bloating
- Nausea
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Infertility
If you notice the above symptoms and signs, be sure to speak with your doctor about treatment and management options.
Risk Factors for Endometriosis
In addition to the above symptoms, it's important for patients to be mindful of the following risk factors commonly linked to endometriosis:
- Starting your period at a young age
- Shorter menstrual cycles than others (e.g., shorter than 27 days)
- Heavy flow during your period that lasts more than several days
- Low weight/BMI
- Family members also have endometriosis
- Abnormalities of your reproductive organs/tract
Definitely speak with your doctor if you experience the above risk factors and notice any of the previously listed symptoms of the condition.
Diagnosis of Endometriosis
Proper diagnosis of endometriosis will generally involve a discussion of symptoms as well as various diagnostic tests. Patients will often undergo a pelvic exam as well as a transvaginal ultrasound, MRI, and other imaging tests.
Treating Endometriosis
When it comes to treating endometriosis, doctors focus on pain relief, pain management, and ways to prevent serious pain from endometriosis in the future. Hormone therapy and the use of hormonal contraceptives is not uncommon; these treatments reduce or eliminate pain, and can shrink down the endometrial tissue. In some cases, surgical procedures may be recommended in order to avoid further pain and discomfort.
If you suffer from endometriosis and experience infertility, fertility treatment may be recommended to help build a family. In most cases, in vitro fertilization (IVF) will be the ideal treatment option for patients. We can speak with you about the ideal fertility treatment for your situation during the consultation process.
Speak with Our Skilled Fertility Doctors
If you would like to discuss treatment options for endometriosis and ways of building a family, we encourage you to contact our board-certified fertility specialists. You can reach our doctors in Los Angeles and Encino by calling (818) 208-5481, in Thousand Oaks by calling (805) 427-2959, and in Bakersfield by calling (661) 889-5173.