Endometriosis Specialist

What is Endometriosis?

Endometriosis is a condition in which the endometrium, the tissue that normally lines the uterus, grows in other areas of the body. The tissue growth typically occurs in the pelvic area, outside the uterus, on the ovaries, bowel, rectum, bladder, and the delicate lining of the pelvis. It can also occur in other areas as well. Typically, pain and infertility are the two most common reasons that women seek treatment for endometriosis. Your physician may suspect endometriosis, but the only way to know for certain is to visualize and/or biopsy the tissue. This is generally done by laparoscopy, which provides an excellent opportunity for treatment if your surgeon is experienced in minimally invasive surgery. Endometriosis is a chronic disease and often recurs, even after treatment.

Does Endometriosis Affect Fertility?

Research points to the fact that endometriosis may affect fertility at any stage. Even though it is not fully understood how endometriosis affects fertility for every patient, there are certain conditions that endometriosis causes that are known to affect fertility. Some of these are tubal occlusion, immune system issues that can prevent pregnancy or cause miscarriage, and other more complex causes. For example, one of the ways that endometriosis decreases the chance for women to become pregnant is that scar tissue can disrupt the path the egg would take to the fallopian tube. Women come to Dr. Carlos Rotman because he is a pioneer in the management of the disease and has published extensively over the last 30 years. He has developed techniques and tools that help improve the results of laparoscopic procedures. His work with endometriosis allows him to offer advanced care for women.

How Many Times Can I Have Laparoscopic Surgery for Endometriosis?

Since endometriosis is a common disease that frequently returns despite successful treatment, your disease could come back and you may require additional surgery, depending on your age, desire for future pregnancy, and other factors. In cases of severe endometriosis, laparoscopy may be the best option. Conservative laparoscopic surgery attempts to remove or destroy all of the visible endometriotic tissue, remove adhesions, and restore the pelvic anatomy as much as possible. Nerve removal (neurectomy) may very rarely be performed during surgery as a means of relieving the pain associated with endometriosis. Dr. Rotman has advanced knowledge of endometriosis diagnosis and treatment and sees patients from around the world. For more endometriosis information or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Rotman, please contact his office.