This is the lining of the uterus (the endometrial lining) implanting and growing outside the uterus. This condition is one of “small volume” disease, meaning that it cannot be identified by MRI, CT scan, or Ultrasound, and is most often a clinical diagnosis.
- A mismanaged condition by the OBGYN that is often unrecognized and untreated. Many patients are told by their OBGYN – who is far too busy concentrating on Obstetrics – that their pain is normal. Pain medications are used, birth control pills are prescribed, and patients ultimately have progression of their disease that leads to chronic pelvic pain, ER visits and multiple imaging studies, consultations to Urologists for pelvic pain, or to Gastroenterologists for the same leading to additional procedures such as endoscopy and cystoscopy.
- Delay in Care results leading to severe and chronic pelvic pain, narcotic use, mental anguish, psychiatric consultation in some cases, and alternative therapies that are flourishing online in which patients pay cash. Most dramatic – endometriosis is the number one reason why IVF Reproductive Endocrinologists are in business. 95% of patients treated for infertility below the age of 40 – prime reproductive years – are for endometriosis. Any stage of endometriosis can cause fertility, and when progressive to advance stages IVF is certainly almost always required.
Result: Delay in care in the diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis can lead to chronic pelvic pain, depression and anxiety, narcotic use and abuse, extremely high costs for unnecessary tests and procedures that do not confirm the diagnosis, and severe infertility requiring IVF procedures at very high cost.
