Endometriosis is a common cause of abdominal pain that affects about 1 in 10 women of childbearing years. Board-certified OB/GYN Lev Kandinov, MD, diagnoses and treats women with endometriosis and other sources of abdominal pain at Aventura OBGYN Specialists in Aventura, Florida. If you suffer from abdominal pain or suspect you may have endometriosis, call the office or book an appointment online today.
The endometrium is the tissue that normally lines your uterus and sheds during your menstrual period. Endometriosis is a gynecological condition that happens when this tissue grows in places it shouldn’t.
Endometriosis most often causes the endometrium to develop in the pelvic organs, such as:
In rare cases, endometriosis can spread beyond your pelvic organs and affect other parts of the body, such as your lungs.
When you have endometriosis, the displaced tissue continues to grow and bleed with your menstrual cycle just like normal uterine lining. Since this abnormal tissue has no way to exit your body, it becomes trapped.
Trapped endometrium may cause inflammation, irritation, and scar tissue to form on nearby organs. This may lead to severe abdominal pain, the most prominent symptom of endometriosis. Other signs and symptoms of endometriosis include:
You should schedule an appointment at Aventura OBGYN Specialists if you experience any of these symptoms. Dr. Kandinov works with you to develop a personalized treatment plan to relieve your endometriosis symptoms.
About 40% of women with infertility also have endometriosis. This may be because inflammation caused by endometriosis may block or interfere with the process of fertilization.
However, you can become pregnant if you have endometriosis. Dr. Kandinov helps many women with endometriosis successfully become pregnant and happily discusses your best options for treatment during an appointment.
To diagnose endometriosis, Dr. Kandinov thoroughly reviews your medical history and performs a pelvic exam. If he suspects you have endometriosis, he may take an ultrasound imaging test to confirm the diagnosis.
Then, he recommends the best course of treatment to relieve your particular symptoms. If you’re not trying to get pregnant, treatment may begin with hormonal birth control. If you are trying to get pregnant, Dr. Kandinov may recommend different medications or surgery to remove the growths.
Laparoscopic surgery may be necessary in severe cases of endometriosis or to improve your chances of pregnancy.
To learn more about your treatment options for endometriosis and abdominal pain, call Aventura OBGYN Specialists or book an appointment online.
