Can Surgery Help Endometriosis?

If you’ve been diagnosed with endometriosis, you’re not alone. More than 200 million women across the globe have this condition, which can cause intense symptoms and chronic pain. 

In fact, endometriosis can take over your life, changing everything from your emotional well-being to your ability to function at work and even your personal relationships. If your life has been impacted by endometriosis, you’re probably wondering what treatments can offer relief. 

At Darin Swainston MD. FACOG in Las Vegas, Nevada, board-certified OB/GYN providers Dr. Darin Swainston and Dr. Daniel Richards specialize in helping women overcome the debilitating effects of endometriosis using the most advanced surgical treatment options available. 

Take a moment to learn more about endometriosis and whether surgery can help alleviate your symptoms. 

Endometriosis 101

Every month, the endometrial tissue inside your uterus thickens to prepare for the implantation of a fertilized egg. When you don’t get pregnant, the lining sheds and you get your period. Once your period ends, this cycle begins again.  

For women with endometriosis, however, the endometrial tissue grows outside of the uterus. It can develop on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, intestines, or other areas of the body. When the time comes to shed the lining, it still tries to leave your body in response to the shifts in your hormones. 

Since the tissue isn’t inside your uterus, it can’t leave. Instead, this misplaced endometrial tissue becomes lesions that irritate the surrounding organs and tissues. Over time, it causes scars, ovarian cysts, and adhesions to form. 

Endometriosis can’t be seen through a pelvic exam because it grows in other parts of the abdominal cavity. Instead, your providers at Darin Swainston MD. FACOG look for symptoms, including: 

• Severe menstrual cramps
• Chronic pelvic pain
• Heavy or abnormal bleeding
• Nausea
• Fatigue
• Trouble with urination or bowel movements
• Painful intercourse

Over time, endometriosis can also cause difficulty with conception. In fact, the progressive and degenerative condition is one of the top causes of infertility in women, and about half of women with moderate-to-severe endometriosis struggle to get pregnant.  

How surgery helps endometriosis

Surgery for endometriosis isn’t recommended in all cases. Dr. Swainston or Dr. Richards first reviews your medical history and symptoms before making any treatment suggestions. For many women, surgery helps alleviate the troublesome symptoms of endometriosis while preserving your fertility. 

At Darin Swainston MD. FACOG, Dr. Richards and Dr. Swainston use the most advanced robotic-assisted surgeries to treat and manage endometriosis, including:

• Robotic-assisted removal of endometrial implants from areas of the abdominal cavity
• Extensive lysis (breakdown) of endometrial adhesions (destruction of the scar tissue)
• Use of electrical heat energy to destroy the endometrial implants (fulguration)

Removal or destruction of the misplaced endometrial tissue and associated adhesions and scar tissue helps reduce the symptoms associated with endometriosis. Importantly, surgical intervention can also help you keep your fertility so you can have children.

For women whose families are complete or who aren’t planning to have children, robotic-assisted hysterectomy may be recommended. This treatment ends the cycle of endometriosis for good, restoring your quality of life. 

Ready to learn more about how surgery can help endometriosis? Contact the experts at Darin Swainston MD. FACOG in Las Vegas by calling 702-357-5741 or book an appointment online now.