About symptoms, diagnosis and treatment
Endometriosis
If you are experiencing pain during your periods or intercourse or having difficulty falling pregnant, you could have endometriosis – an easily treatable condition that can affect fertility.
What is Endometriosis?
Endometriosis occurs when the tissue that lines the uterus, the endometrium, begins to grow outside of the uterus, sometimes turning into scar tissue. It’s quite a common condition affecting around 10-15% of women in their reproductive years; that is, women still menstruating.
Possible Symptoms
Endometriosis symptoms are sometimes confused with those of irritable bowel syndrome (diarrhoea, painful bowel movements, and bloating). Endometriosis may run in families and when known, it can be diagnosed early in women who experience increasing irregular or heavy periods, period pain or pain during intercourse. For some women, the signs of endometriosis only become apparent when they have difficulty falling pregnant.
Without early investigation, the average time to diagnose endometriosis can be prolonged, sometimes as long as six or seven years. That’s where we can help.
Diagnosis
The first step in diagnosing endometriosis is obtaining an understanding of your medical history. A pelvic examination by a gynaecologist and an ultrasound examination with our partners Newcastle Ultrasound may help us understand your current situation.
However, the best way to diagnose endometriosis is by laparoscopy. A laparoscopy is a day surgical procedure during which you are asleep for 20 to 30 minutes. A telescope is inserted into your abdomen through which we look at your uterus, tubes and ovaries. The procedure can be used to diagnose the condition but treatment for endometriosis can be undertaken at the same time.
Keyhole Surgery
Generally treatment for endometriosis will involve the use of hormones or surgery to remove the extra tissue. Hormonal treatment can be very effective for relief of pain, but surgery is generally a better option for treatment for endometriosis.
Laparoscopic or keyhole surgery, with radical excision of all the areas of endometriosis, is one of the main areas of surgery undertaken by Dr Raymond. This procedure has been shown to be the most effective way to relieve pain, but also to assist in achieving a pregnancy.
Infertility
As more women delay their first pregnancy, the incidence of endometriosis appears to be increasing overall. Therefore, we recommend any woman under the age of 40 who is having some difficulty falling pregnant, experiencing pain or heaviness with their periods or suffers pain during intercourse start the investigation to exclude endometriosis as the cause.
In a recent study, undertaken by Dr Raymond, of patients treated for infertility within the last three years, almost 80% were able to achieve a pregnancy within a year of endometriosis treatment by surgery alone or with a combination of surgery and Clomiphene or IVF.
Dr Raymond will undertake a thorough exploration of endometriosis and treatment options before progressing with other gynaecological care or IVF. For more information about the symptoms and treatment of endometriosis, please call us on 02 4957 3899.
Experience and Expertise
Over the last 20 years, Dr Raymond has gained significant expertise in the surgical management of Endometriosis where laparoscopic (keyhole) excision of the disease is the key to success. He has performed the largest number of advanced laparoscopic surgeries for Endometriosis in Newcastle.
This has involved working with other specialists such as colorectal bowel surgeons and urologists to ensure complete excision and treatment of the disease. He now has a particularly busy practice providing complex second opinions for patients who are struggling or failing with treatment related to Endometriosis.
Get In Touch
Contact Info
We’re in Newcastle
Address: Suite 1 & 2, 25 Morehead Street, Lambton NSW 2299
Hours: Monday - Wednesday: 9:00am – 5:00pm,
Thursday: Closed,
Friday: 9:00am – 2:30pm
Phone: (02) 4957 3899
Email: reception@steveraymond.com.au