The tissue lining your uterus is called endometrium. Each month, during your period, you shed this tissue if you are not pregnant. If you are experiencing endometriosis, the endometrium tissue moves into other parts of your pelvic area and grows, causing pain and other symptoms.
Signs You Should Get Help for Endometriosis
Pain is the most common symptom of endometriosis, but the level of your pain doesn’t always reflect how severe your endometriosis is.
- Painful menstrual cramps
- Persistent lower back pain or pelvic pain
- Pain during or after sex
- Pain while going to the bathroom during menstrual periods
Also, trouble getting pregnant — infertility — can be a sign of endometriosis. Endometriosis is the leading cause of infertility in women.
Endometriosis Treatment at Rush
Early diagnosis and treatment can ease many of your endometriosis symptoms. Your Rush provider will recommend a treatment plan based on your age, the severity of your pain and your desire to be pregnant.
Treatment options include the following:
- Lifestyle changes to reduce pain
- Medications to alleviate pain
- Hormone treatments to slow the growth of endometrial tissue
- Laparoscopy or other surgical procedures to remove growths
- Hysterectomy (removing your uterus) and oophorectomy (removing your ovaries) are the most definitive cures for endometriosis but will prevent you from becoming pregnant in the future
Rush Excellence in Endometriosis Care
- Nationally ranked gynecologic care: U.S. News & World Report ranks Rush University Medical Center among the nation's best for gynecologic care. Our gynecology program takes a holistic approach to your care, prioritizing your preferences and offering you a full range of treatment options that consider your overall well-being.
- Minimally invasive surgery options: Rush gynecologic surgeons specialize in removing endometrial growths and performing hysterectomies with smaller incisions. These minimally invasive surgery options can lead to decreased pain, shorter recovery times and less noticeable scars.
- Program dedicated to pelvic health: Through Rush University Medical Center’s Program for Abdominal and Pelvic Health, specialists work together to diagnose and treat the symptoms of patients with multiple pelvic problems, including endometriosis. Your team of experts, including urogynecologists, colon and rectal surgeons and physical therapists, will develop a care plan based on how your conditions relate to each other, and which treatments will be most effective. For your convenience, each of your program visits will include the providers you need to see, so you don’t have to make multiple appointments to find relief.