What is endometriosis?

Endometriosis is a condition where your endometrial lining — the internal lining of your uterus — grows outside of your uterus. Endometriosis typically affects your ovaries, fallopian tubes, and other organs in your pelvic area.

If you have endometriosis, the displaced tissue forms and breaks down — just as it does when it’s lining your uterus — but it doesn’t have a way to exit your body. The tissue becomes trapped and can cause cysts, adhesions, and scar tissue to form.

What are symptoms of endometriosis?

• Endometriosis causes a variety of painful and disruptive symptoms, including:
• Painful periods
• Abnormal bleeding — including heavy periods and bleeding between your periods
• Painful urination or bowel movements
• Painful sexual intercourse
• Fatigue
• Infertility

In addition to these symptoms, endometriosis can cause fertility problems. The build-up of endometrial tissue on the ovaries and fallopian tubes can prevent your eggs from successfully traveling to your uterus.

If you experience these symptoms, make an appointment with Dr. Jean-Gilles right away for prompt diagnosis and treatment.

How is endometriosis diagnosed?

Dr. Jean-Gilles begins diagnosis with a conversation about your symptoms. He performs a pelvic exam to feel for scar tissue or cysts, and also uses an ultrasound to see inside of your pelvic area to check for abnormal tissue and signs of endometriosis.

In some cases — such as when less invasive diagnostic methods are inconclusive — Dr. Jean-Gilles may need to perform a laparoscopic procedure to look at your reproductive organs for signs of endometriosis.

During this procedure, he makes small incisions in your abdomen and uses a laparoscope, which is a slender surgical tube with a camera on the tip to examine your organs. The laparoscope sends images from inside your body back to a monitor in the treatment room.

How is endometriosis treated?

Dr. Jean-Gilles typically begins treatment for endometriosis conservatively with oral contraceptives, gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists and antagonists, and progestin therapy.

If hormone management therapy doesn’t reduce your symptoms, he uses minimally invasive surgical techniques to remove the displaced endometrial tissue.

If you continue to experience endometriosis, Dr. Jean-Gilles may suggest a hysterectomy. This procedure is only used as a last resort, as it ends your reproductive potential.

Call or make an appointment online if you’re experiencing these symptoms and are concerned about endometriosis.