Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Services

UPMC offers comprehensive and compassionate care for endometriosis. Endometriosis occurs when some of the lining of your uterus grows outside of your uterus wall, causing issues like severe pain and difficulty getting pregnant.

But being diagnosed and treated for endometriosis may reduce your pain and risk of complications.

What Endometriosis Services and Treatments Do You Offer at UPMC?

At UPMC, our endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain team takes a personalized approach to your care.

We know that endometriosis can cause severe pain and issues that make it harder to live your life. Many people live with symptoms for years before getting a diagnosis. But the earlier your diagnosis, the sooner you can begin treatment.

Endometriosis is chronic (long-term) and has no cure. But effective treatment can help ease your symptoms and improve your quality of life. In some cases, treatment can even help prevent complications like infertility.

That’s why UPMC’s endometriosis and pelvic pain experts offer comprehensive treatment.

Your treatment plan may include:

• Diagnosis for endometriosis — Our experts use the most effective and up-to-date tools to diagnose endometriosis. Knowing the severity and stage of your disease helps us create a tailored treatment plan for you. The only way to confirm you have endometriosis is through a minimally invasive surgery called laparoscopy.
• Medication to manage your pain and bleeding — Your doctor may recommend nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) pain medications to reduce pain and bleeding during your period. Your doctor might also recommend hormone medication (also known as hormone therapy). Hormone therapy can reduce your estrogen levels, helping to slow and prevent tissue growth and ease swelling and pain.
• Surgery to treat endometriosis — If medication isn’t enough to ease your symptoms, your doctor may recommend surgery for endometriosis. Surgery may also up your odds of getting pregnant if you’re dealing with infertility. In addition to diagnosis, doctors use laparoscopic surgery to remove mild to moderate endometriosis growths. When endometriosis is severe, a doctor may need to perform a laparotomy. With laparotomy, a doctor makes a larger cut to remove more tissue. Doctors rarely use hysterectomy (removing the entire uterus) to treat endometriosis.
• Fertility treatment — About half of people with endometriosis have a hard time getting pregnant. If you’re having trouble getting pregnant, your doctor may refer you to a doctor who treats infertility (reproductive endocrinologist). Surgery to remove scar tissue caused by endometriosis can also sometimes improve fertility.
• Behavioral therapy — Endometriosis isn’t your fault, and it isn’t caused by stress or bad habits, but your doctor may recommend group or one-on-one therapy. Therapy can help you learn to live better and manage your pain.
• Pelvic floor therapy — Pelvic floor therapy is a special type of physical therapy focusing on the muscles that line your pelvis and support your uterus, bladder, bowel, and rectum. Pelvic floor therapy helps you manage symptoms that impact these areas of your body.

What Should I Expect Before, During, and After My Endometriosis Appointment?

Before your appointment

There’s usually not a lot you need to do to prepare for your appointment, but your doctor’s office will let you know if there are steps you should take beforehand. For example, your doctor may want you to complete health screening forms.

It can be helpful to write down your symptoms and when you experienced them, along with any questions you’d like to ask your doctor. Bring this information to your doctor’s appointment.

If you’re having surgery for endometriosis, your care team will tell you how to prepare and what to expect.

During your endometriosis appointment

If you’re seeing your doctor about endometriosis for the first time, they'll ask about your health history and symptoms. Then, your doctor will do a pelvic exam to check in your vagina and around your pelvic area for painful areas and lumps.

If your doctor suspects you have endometriosis, they'll recommend a laparoscopy, a minimally invasive surgery to check for endometriosis growths. Laparoscopy is the only way to confirm you have endometriosis. You’ll have surgery during a separate outpatient appointment.

Your doctor may also recommend you get an ultrasound, which uses sound waves to look at your pelvic area. An ultrasound can find blood-filled cysts (endometriomas), which are usually a sign of endometriosis.

In some cases, your doctor may also recommend an MRI to help with laparoscopy or surgery.

Nurse navigator

UPMC will assign you a nurse navigator who will work closely with you to arrange your care. They’ll help you prepare for and schedule:

• Pre-op exams.
• Imaging scans.
• Additional appointments with our specialists.

After your appointment

If you’re diagnosed with endometriosis, your doctor will talk to you about your treatment plan. Because endometriosis has no cure, you'll probably need ongoing treatment. That may include regular appointments with your ob-gyn, who may refer you to other experts, like an infertility specialist.

Contact your doctor or nurse navigator if you have new symptoms or if your symptoms get worse between your scheduled appointments.

Why Choose UPMC Magee-Womens for Endometriosis Services?

Our endometriosis doctors

Our endometriosis specialists have years of experience diagnosing and treating endometriosis. We rely on the latest techniques and treatments to give you the best possible care. Your care team will tailor medical and surgical treatment to meet your unique needs.

You can trust UPMC to:

• Listen to your health concerns and take your treatment goals seriously.
• Help you figure out what’s causing or contributing to your pain
• Find effective ways to manage your pain and other symptoms.
• Share solutions that help you advocate for your needs.
• Support you through every step of your journey, from diagnosis to treatment.

Our doctors and nurses also work closely with other experts who can help you manage your endometriosis symptoms.

These include:

• Pelvic floor physical therapists.
• GI (gastroenterologist) doctors.
• Female urology experts.
• Colorectal surgeons.
• Infertility specialists.
• Behavioral medicine and mental health experts.
• Nutritionists.

Last reviewed by a UPMC medical professional on 2024-09-05.