Learn WHY Endometriosis Goes Undiagnosed for Years and What Questions to Ask - Dr Lora Shahine

Endometriosis is a very painful and often misunderstood condition. In this video we'll explore what endometriosis is, how common it is, and why it can be difficult to diagnose. I also share my top five common signs and symptoms of endometriosis, including pain with periods, intercourse, and bowel movements, as well as issues surrounding the menstrual cycle and infertility. The video concludes with a recap of endometriosis and its symptoms, as well as a list of helpful resources. If you're interested in learning more about endometriosis, this video is a great place to start.

Resources:
ASRM - American Society for Reproductive Medicine

ACOG - American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

NIH - National Institutes of Heath

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ABOUT : Lora Shahine, MD, is a double board certified reproductive endocrinologist and OBGYN currently practicing at Pacific NW Fertility in Seattle, WA. Originally from North Carolina, Dr. Shahine graduated with a Bachelor of Science in biology from Georgetown University in Washington, DC, and completed her training in medical school at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of California at San Francisco, and fellowship in reproductive endocrinology and infertility at Stanford University.
As Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Washington and Director of the Center of Recurrent Pregnancy Loss at Pacific NW Fertility, she is committed to providing excellence in patient care, teaching the next generation of women’s healthcare providers, and continuing research in the fields of fertility and recurrent miscarriage. She has published over 75 peer-reviewed research projects and is an active member of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, Seattle Gynecology Society, and the Babyquest Fertility Grant organization. Dr. Shahine is an accomplished author including 'Planting the Seeds of Pregnancy: An Integrative Approach to Fertility Care' and best-selling book, 'Not Broken: An Approachable Guide to Miscarriage and Recurrent Pregnancy Loss.'
Whether through her research, books, lectures, or active social media presense Dr. Shahine is passionate about educating on reproductive health and supporting the feritlity community.

DISCLAIMER: The content contained herein is provided for informational and/or entertainment purposes only and not intended as a substitute for advice provided by a healthcare professional. Use the provided information at your own risk. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, please contact your health care provider.

#endometriosisawareness
#painfulperiods
#reproductivehealth

Chapter
0:00 Intro
0:20 Video overview
1:09 #1 - What is endometriosis?
3:07 #2 - How common is endometriosis?
4:46 #3 - Why does endometriosis take so long to diagnose?
6:18 Five signs & symptoms
6:25 #1 - Pain with periods
9:33 #2 - Pain with intercourse
9:51 #3 - Pain with bowl movement
10:35 #4 - Surrounding the menstrual cycle/flow
11:29 #5 - Infertility
13:18 Recap about endometriosis
14:22 Recap about the 5 signs & symptoms
14:42 Recourses
15:08 Closing thoughts

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[claudiapastorahdez]

I was diagnosed recently after more than 10 years of complaining of excessive pain when menstruating.

[KattKitt]

I’m 23 and I’m currently waiting for my ultrasound results to see if there’s any cysts or anything. Plus after my mom’s hysterectomy we found out she had undiagnosed endometriosis, which can be hereditary and could be the answer to all of my questions. I had to beg my Dr (who is also female) to even let me get the ultrasound because she kept telling me that my pain was normal. She told me “it’s normal and it’s just hormonal” but I don’t think me calling into work/school due to how much pain I was in is normal! 😭 My legs felt like they were being drained of blood and I couldn’t hardly walk. The only pain medication that helped was this gross red liquid which was definitely not ibuprofen because that did nothing. Thank you for this video it really helped me understand endometriosis a lot better! It made me feel comforted knowing that you are a dr who takes endometriosis seriously 💜

[irishcowgirl]

I had pelvic pain about 7 years before endometriosis was suspected, and it was 3 years after that I got the official diagnosis. Now it's been almost 4 years since I've been diagnosed, and it's been a nightmare. There have been times that I can't move or sleep due to bad endo flare ups

[lisae]

I have been dealing with reproduction and abdominal pain for for 5 years now with severe bloating, severe pain when needing to have a bowel movement, changes in bowel movements to sudden loose stools, I’ve had so many Ultrasounds and CT scans that show repeated Hemorrhagic Ovarian cysts that have occurred on both ovaries. I now have Ciliated Uterine Metaplasia, the term Heterogeneous tissue of the Myometrium and of the Cervix of undetermined significance is always found on my tests. . I have a Simple cyst on left Ovary 1.6 cm and presumed Hemorrhagic cyst on right Ovary 1.8 cm. Vs Endometrioma, general enlargement of the uterus that shift’s right of midline with a small Fibroid (4.3 cm) I’m 52 and Post Menopausal taking HRT for severe hot flashes. I’m about at my wits end trying to figure out what is wrong with me and since I’m a disabled RN, I feel like I’ve had to be my own doctor because I already have chronic pain due to arthritis, Juvenile Discogenic Disease, and Fibromyalgia and everything seems to always get thrown under the Fibromyalgia diagnosis. I’ve had a ruptured Appendix, Gallbladder removed with postoperative hemorrhage, and reported Diverticulosis of Duodenum and Sigmoid Colon. I’m scheduled to see a GI doctor and have seen my Gynecologist recently. Am I wrong to think that some of these term’s could be Adenomyosis or Endometriosis? I’m having severe Gastric reflux with constant weird noises coming out of my mouth and I mainly wear long Sun dresses or sweat pants because my gut is always so bloated. I have gained a lot of weight and most of it is in my abdomen and pelvis. I have like a shelf growing through my bellybutton where my lower pelvis juts out weirdly and my epigastric area is always sticking out uncomfortably and I feel so gross looking like this all the time. I’m getting so depressed with all this shit that I can’t take it much longer. When you already have chronic pain, you dread even bringing up more issues because I already feel judged by so many people around me who don’t understand what I’m going through. I just want to get everything removed that is causing me problems because how am I supposed to know if the Metaplasia turns in to something worse if I’m always bleeding and why do I have to bleed during Menopause? They act like this is all just common findings and nothing to worry about but I know that Ovarian cancer is also a worry for me because of these symptoms and my age and as a nurse, I’ve taken care of many women younger than I who were dying of Ovarian cancer before they even knew they had it. Our healthcare system needs a major overhaul because you get 15 minutes to explain everything and then when you do get vague things back on tests, they are always treated like a benign condition that is nothing to worry about yet I feel like shit and can’t afford to keep going to doctors but never figuring out what’s causing my issues. I’m venting on here pretty hard because I’m so frustrated and sick and tired of being sick and tired. I’m too young for all this shit.

[delaneyhazlewood]

Thank you so much Dr. Shahine for this video and your content! As a women in her mid twenties trying to seek help with this it has been a very hard journey. I still can't believe the amount of people who try to brush off things like pain and tell me it's normal. Your videos have helped to educate me so that I know how to better describe my symptoms to a doctor and advocate for myself, so thank you!!

[Janel_Howat]

I was officially "diagnosed" in 2019 after many years of being told I have "chronic pain syndrome." I found an amazing OBGYN who's done two laparoscopy/hysteroscopy surgeries, and helped preserve my fertility options.

Thank you for the wonderful educational overview on such a complex condition so many women have.

[ella.canna]

I've been diagnosed with endometriosis today even though I've gone to more than 15 professionals over the course of 9 years, including 4 surgeries

[sharonc]

22 years - I'm autistic and for some reason dr's dismiss my pain very easily - almost died twice in ER when it was assumed I was not actually a problem, two emergency surgeries when they'd tried to send me home. I guess I don't show pain in the same way. I have to do my own research and argue for testing, was told three times it wasn't endometriosis but it showed up on MRI.

[youtubecreatersTJs]

Thank You for all the great information. I have My Daughter, she has been having health issue ssince she was aprox 17 Drs would say her pain was growing pains, pain from her menstrual. by the time she was 18 in and out of Ers because her pains would be so bad it caused severe vomiting. her 19th Birthday I wasnt making her a cake. I was waiting for her to be ok thru a surgery to remove her gal bladder. And of course there was nothing wrong with it. Now she has to live her entire life without a gal bladder. I came across a friend that new something about this endometriosis. I researched, and wow, I have begged drs in offices and ERs to check her. They treated me like a side chair DR. She is now 25 yrs old. Still living with this. Its horrible when you have no insurance or medicaid. DRs do not care. She has been pregnant twice. and both times she spent over the first month in the hospital. That could do nothing but iv vomit meds and pain meds. She had to terminate both. Heart wrenching. I pray soon we will find a dr that cares with your knowledge in our home state of Florida.God Bless Thank You

[fionacofield]

Best explanation I have seen so far! Thank you for doing this video. Your explanations are always so clear, especially with the diagrams. 👍
And thank you for teaching women to advocate for ourselves!

Is there a chance you could talk about or do a video on Silent Endometriosis?

[viniade]

Thank you very much, Dr. Shahine. Two months ago, I underwent a laparoscopy during which a significant chocolate cyst and 8 myomas were removed. At 48, I've grappled with menstrual pain throughout my life, though I hadn't experienced other major issues until recently. Over the past two years, I began feeling peculiar sensations and noticed my abdomen becoming as rigid as stone. I encountered colon problems, with many attributing them to lactose intolerance and other explanations.

Neither in Italy nor in the USA did anyone recognize that I was suffering from endometriosis. Following my surgery, my surgeon stressed the importance of regular check-ups every six months. Given this, what course of action do you recommend? Thanks for your video, and good luck to everyone! 💜

[sheeriohs]

Thanks so much for the video. I would love to hear your thoughts on Receptiva, Emma/Alex etc. in another video.

[bebeautiful]

Your videos are informative and your voice is soothing. I wish if you can make video on adenomyosis also.

[kinseyfreed]

I have endometriosis, and find it frustrating that people only refrence pain with periods. My pelvic pain is worst with high estrogen, not while hormone levels are down, during the period. Estrogen is inflammatory, so that’s the source of my pain.
My pelvic pain has not been as bad these last few months, and I am able to directly correlate that with estrogen levels, because my periods have been really light flow and short. I know that my estrogen levels are too low right now, but that has also given me a respite from pelvic pain. It’s a double edged sword.

[victoriakatofficial]

I know you would not be able to diagnose,
But I had always experienced the painful periods, from since I started them, and sex was always painful (a little painful for the first 10 years, but over the last couple of years, it’s been extreme and I can’t even have it anymore) as well as I had been on birth control pills and the iud implant, and all I noticed was the pain was slightly gone but i still experienced it.

And as of the last year, I have had the iud implant for about 3 years and only in the last year I had been experiencing probably the worst pain ive ever experienced in my life since starting puberty..

I’ve recently had the iud removed and I’m trying to be all natural.
However, I just experience the pain constantly now. Period or no period, without birth control or anything, being not sexually active.

It’s quite a conundrum for me
I’m 26 btw and this started at age 13

[denatheexplorer]

My actual flow isn't painful AT ALL, and I have maybe 1 day of heavy bleeding. However, I have pelvic pain that starts on day 10-12 thru day 16-17 of my cycle that last 15-20 minutes at a time. The pain shoots down to my quads. It goes away for a few days then it comes back about 1 week before my cycle starts. I sometimes have muscle cramps/spasms after bowel movements and orgasms that last about 20minutes. I've been told by doctors that they will treat it as if it's endo. I have birth control pills, that I haven't taken yet. Can you talk more about the symptoms that manifest like this?

[chicpeachaf]

I heard somewhere that endometriosis can lead to an increased risk of miscarriage. Do you know more information about this or could you do a video on this topic? I recently suffered a missed miscarriage myself and have a history of endometriosis. I have used fertility medication to get pregnant in the past, which seemed to help. Just hoping to understand more about this topic!

[mabelameba]

An endometrioma was found on an US i had done 6 months ago. I've had very vague symptoms that I attribute to my IBS (read that some women who have endometriosis also can have IBS) but it has not impacted my life as most of the cases i've read. I had treatment with birth control for 3 months as per my Gyno, and cyst reduced its size. Im not sure if I should still continue the treatment or not, since im not experiencing any difference or significant symptoms.

[little_d_butterfly]

I have been told that I very probably have endometriosis but the ultrasound didn't show anything and I've been told the mri will most likely be useless as well so I just don't know. I really feel like I could cope easier with this if I could just know for sure. I'm 18 and told that I'll have to be on the pill forever in order to function... Sucks to be a woman sometimes.

[simone]

I’ve had so much pain since my teens. I’m 33 now and still experiencing it. I’ve had about 5 gyno doctors over the years since starting my period. I’ve told them how much pain I’m in and have all those symptoms you mentioned. All they really did was put me on continuous nuvering. And the last doctor I saw maybe a year ago now told me she didn’t want to check for endometriosis because it’s invasive and the way they treat it is with Birth control. I have interstitial cystitis and see urology as well. During my last visit with her few months back, she even told me she suspects that I’m having overlapping symptoms and urged me to talk to my gyno about endometriosis. I told her I have. But no one is doing anything for me. So I suffer really bad intermittent pain still even with birth control.