Dr. Fromuth is a member of the medical staffs at Lancaster Regional Medical Center and Heart of Lancaster Regional Medical Center.
Many women experience pelvic pain ranging from sharp throbbing in the first days of their menstrual cycle to a tender ache toward the end. However, more severe and even debilitating pain can be due to endometriosis.
Endometriosis, the cause of which remains unknown, occurs when the cells that grow in the uterine lining develop in the pelvis lining, on the bowels, bladder, ovaries and rectum, and outside of the uterus. While the cells mature with each month, they do not shed at end of a woman’s cycle like the cells in the uterine lining. This continuous growth process can lead to fallopian tube and ovary scarring. As the tell-tale sign of endometriosis, pelvic pain may surface in the lower abdomen a week before or during your cycle, in the lower back during your cycle, or during sexual intercourse or urination.
Other symptoms may include:
• Abdominal bloating
• Constipation during your menstrual cycle
• Intermittent or heavy bleeding
• Watch and learn more here.
PAIN RELIEF
The type of treatment varies from case to case based on a woman’s age, the seriousness of her condition and symptoms, and whether or not she plans to have children. “Mild cases of endometriosis can be managed with hormone therapy to lower estrogen levels while other women who don’t plan on having children can choose to have a hysterectomy for definitive relief,” says Thomas E. Fromuth, M.D., FACOG, OB/GYN, who specializes in the minimally invasive surgical treatment of endometriosis. “For other cases, a laparoscopy can help a physician both diagnose and treat endometriosis, using the thin instrument’s lens to identify the condition and guide minimally invasive instruments to surgically remove the abnormal growths.”
YOUR ANNUAL APPOINTMENT
Because cramps and discomfort can be normal part of a woman’s monthly cycle, many women disregard the signs of endometriosis. The absence of a yearly gynecologic (GYN) exam, complete with breast exam, Pap smear and pelvic exam, may be a factor in the condition’s diagnostic delay, the time between onset and diagnosis.
Not only a means of detecting endometriosis, an annual GYN exam can:
• Assess your risk factors for numerous women’s health issues
• Identify any breast, cervical and pelvic abnormalities
• Track your health and any changes from year to year
If you experience the symptoms of endometriosis, we can help. Call OBGYN of Lancaster at (855) 981-7272 to make an appointment today. Visit http://www.obgynol.com/ for a complete list of our services.
