ENDOMETRIOSIS CARE IN SHERMAN, TX
Endometriosis Diagnosis & Minimally Invasive Treatment
in North Texas & SE Oklahoma
Understanding endometriosis — symptoms, causes, and treatment
Endometriosis is a common condition that can cause pelvic pain (pain in your lower belly) and painful periods. If you are looking for endometriosis care in Sherman, TX, you are in the right place. At G. DeAn Strobel, MD, PA, we help women across North Texas and Texoma understand endometriosis and feel better. This page explains what endometriosis is, its symptoms, its causes, and how it is diagnosed and treated. Many women with endometriosis wait years for answers, and you do not have to. Our team, including minimally invasive surgery specialist Dr. Karissa Cryer, offers caring, patient-first support close to home. Call or text us at 903-957-0275 to learn more. Our board-certified gynecologists — Dr. Strobel and Dr. Cryer — and our team of nurse practitioners care for women across North Texas and Texoma.
What is endometriosis? Endometriosis (say: en-doh-mee-tree-OH-sis) happens when tissue like the lining of your uterus (womb) grows outside of it. This tissue is often found on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and other areas in the pelvis. Each month, this tissue thickens and bleeds, just like the lining inside the uterus. But it has no way to leave the body. This can cause pain, swelling, and scar tissue over time. Endometriosis is not your fault, and it is not something you caused.
What are the symptoms? Symptoms are different for every woman. Some women have a lot of pain, and others have very little to no symptoms. Common signs include: pelvic pain (the most common symptom); painful periods (cramps that may start before your period and last for days); pain during or after sex; pain with bowel movements or urination, often during your period; heavy periods or bleeding between periods; trouble getting pregnant (infertility); and tiredness, bloating, constipation, or nausea, especially during your period. If period pain keeps you from work, school, or daily life, please tell us. That is not something you have to live with.
What causes it / who gets it? Doctors are not sure what causes endometriosis. One idea is retrograde menstruation, which means period blood flows backward into the pelvis instead of leaving the body. Other ideas involve hormones, the immune system, or changes in certain cells. It is most often found in women in their 20s, 30s, and 40s, but teens can have it too. You may be more likely to have it if a close family member has it, if your periods started young, or if your periods are heavy or last a long time.
How is it diagnosed? Finding out if you have endometriosis starts with a talk about your symptoms and your health history. Next, your provider may do a pelvic exam (a check of your reproductive organs). Imaging tests like an ultrasound (a scan that uses sound waves) or an MRI can show signs like cysts. In some cases, the most certain way to diagnose endometriosis is with a laparoscopy (a small surgery that uses a tiny camera to look inside the pelvis). During this surgery, your doctor can see the tissue and take a small sample to test. We will explain each step and answer your questions along the way.
How is it treated? There is no single right treatment. The best plan depends on your symptoms, your age, and whether you want to become pregnant. Options often include watchful waiting if your symptoms are mild; pain medicine such as over-the-counter NSAIDs like ibuprofen; hormonal therapy such as birth control pills, patches, rings, shots, an IUD, or other hormone medicines that calm the tissue and reduce pain; and surgery to remove endometriosis tissue and scar tissue when other treatments are not enough. Surgery is one treatment option, not the only one. When surgery may help, our minimally invasive surgeon Dr. Karissa Cryer offers gentle, advanced care. To learn about endometriosis surgery and what to expect, visit our Endometriosis Surgery page. Ready to talk about your options? Call or text us at 903-957-0275.