If your monthly periods are a regular time of trial — with heavy bleeding, nauseating cramps, or overwhelming fatigue impeding your ability to live your life the way you want to — you should know that you’re not alone. And there could be an underlying medical reason for your symptoms.
If you’re one of the millions of women across the United States who suffers from endometriosis, you can benefit from professional diagnosis and treatment to control your symptoms and to protect your fertility. Compassionate, caring OB/GYN Alexandra Pellicena, MD, supports patients with endometriosis from her Houston, Texas, office.
Dr. Pellicena can evaluate you for endometriosis and recommend the best treatment options for your health and lifestyle needs. Don’t continue to suffer from abnormally heavy periods without getting checked out for endometriosis.
Your period can vary widely, and it may change over the course of your life. Your periods might be no big deal, or they could come with several days of debilitating symptoms each month. For some, difficult periods are nothing serious. However, heavy periods could also be a symptom of an underlying cause, such as endometriosis.
Researchers are still learning about the causes of endometriosis, but it likely relates to the female sex hormone estrogen. When you have endometriosis, your body produces endometrial tissue outside of the lining of your uterus where it’s meant to grow. This abnormal tissue growth typically occurs around your pelvic organs.
In more than one-third of endometriosis patients, fertility is negatively affected by this condition. Additionally, pelvic pain during your period, during or after sexual intercourse, or during ovulation can be disruptive to your quality of life. Stop dreading “that time of the month” by seeking diagnosis and treatment for potential endometriosis.
If your heavy or painful periods have you wondering about endometriosis, get checked out by Dr. Pellicena as soon as possible, especially if you’re concerned about fertility. While this condition can’t be cured, proper management can reduce your symptoms and protect your ability to conceive and become pregnant.
Dr. Pellicena can confirm your endometriosis diagnosis with a minimally invasive laparoscopic exploratory procedure. She may be able to diagnose endometriosis based on your symptoms alone to get you started with treatment options right away.
To manage endometriosis, Dr. Pellicena typically recommends hormonal medications, including oral hormonal contraception, progestins or progesterone, or a Mirena IUD. You may also need laparoscopic surgery or, in severe cases, a hysterectomy to control your endometriosis symptoms.
You don’t have to cope with an out-of-control menstrual cycle on your own. Request a consultation with Dr. Pellicena online, or call 713-321-2280 to book your appointment. We also offer telemedicine services.
