Endometriosis | Q&A with Dr. Patzkowsky

Endometriosis is a benign disorder characterized by the presence of endometrial tissue (the tissue that lines the uterus) outside the uterine cavity where it becomes attached to reproductive or abdominal organs. The patches of endometrial tissue swell with blood during menstruation as if they were still in the uterus. Endometriosis is a common disorder, most prevalent between the ages of 25 and 40. Symptoms vary and are not strictly correlated with the severity of the disease; they may worsen with time, but tend to diminish during pregnancy and cease with menopause. Many women have no symptoms at all. Treatment depends on the severity of symptoms, the age of the woman, and whether she wishes to have children.

Questions Answered:
1. What is endometriosis? 0:03
2. What are the symptoms of endometriosis? 0:14
3. Can endometriosis affect fertility? 1:15
4. What are the treatment options for endometriosis? 2:01
5. Can endometriosis be a recurring issue? 2:51
6. What is the difference between minimally invasive surgery and open surgery for endometriosis? 3:10
7. What type of physician should I see for surgical treatment of endometriosis? 4:23

[leahmiller]

I feel like not everyone wants to treat there pain with medication rather than get to the root of the problem. I’ve been put on Birth Control Pills and depo and they did more damage to my life than anything

[weebeeknowitall]

She seems so well informed, but leaves me just breathless

[videoanalyzers]

60, 000 hits. Its not easy putting information out there knowing it will be open to scrutiny and so many opinions. Anyone would be a little anxious. Amazing Doctor, person and solid information. Enough said..J. Lopez

[Donnachain]

Symptoms of endometrosis
Agonising PAIN!!!

[jessicachernak]

My goodness this doctor seems so nervous and consistently out of breath. Regardless this video is informative. I started experiencing extreme pain over 20 years ago. I was placed on Lupron to force menopause and experienced a few good years after the treatment with minimal pain but it inevitably came back. I went on birth control pills and had a serious reaction with depressive episodes and suicidal thoughts and had to stop taking them. I went back on the Lupron and again it worked for a few years. About 6 years ago I had the injections a third time and then had a D and C outpatient surgery to remove a nasty chocolate cyst and thin out the endometrium (I believe). The doctor also placed the Mirena at that time. I had 4 wonderful years without pain and without periods. Around the 4 year mark I started getting such intense pains that I was passing out. I removed the Mirena but the pain was getting increasingly worse. Endometriosis is debilitating. I often am unable to go to work or drive a car as the pain prevents me from getting out of bed. I am often nauseous and will become faint and on the verge of passing out. It drains me of all energy. I can't even eat and if I do the food tastes strange and it normally lasts 6-7 days a month though the bleeding is light and normally only 2-3 days the pain is worst for me during that time and also when I ovulate which has a lovely name called middleshmirts or something like that. I can also get intense pains throughout the month that come in short bursts for seemingly no particular reason. I may be just sitting at my desk and the pain feels like I am being stabbed, the intense pain may last as long as 30 seconds to 3 or 4 minutes with smaller bursts of pain for a few hours and then stop. This may be a result of breaking cysts. With the ovulation pain I can almost feel the egg moving along the fallopian tubes though I know thats not factual it does feel like this. During my periods and at ovulation my stomach muscles contract and shake my whole belly and the pain feels as though large hands with sharp fingernails are grasping my ovaries and squeezing and twisting them in a pulsating way. Usually the day before my period my back tightens and I have trouble sitting upright or standing as the muscles are so tense and painful though massage does ease the tension somewhat it persists for days. I do not wish this pain on anyone. Recently I have been experiencing pain in other parts of my body which could be a result of fistulas. I am seeing my doctor again next month to have tests done to find out if the scar tissue has spread. I would not wish this on anyone, truly.

[doctordarcy]

I had stage 4, and didn't even know it. I went in for surgery to improve my infertility, and ended up having to have my fallopian tubes removed, because they were so scarred over. I will never have children now, but it is what it is.

[PositivevibesT]

God bless us all suffering from endometriosis and we may we all conceive one day.

[medicostudy]

More power to us all, Endo Frendos ❤

N To those who're like she's out of breath.... we never know if the doctor is shooting this video after a hectic day/night shift! Or maybe a hectic surgery session cz Endo surg can take >4 hours!

[AskAwayHealth]

A useful explanation of this topic - really good to highlight it for women who have very painful/heavy periods.

[kendrakennedy]

I suspect that I have endometriosis and I went to the doctor yesterday, she looked at me, said I didn’t have it and that I was too young, and sent me on my way. No exams were done, no ultrasounds, no tests.

[ciganyweaverandherperiwink]

These videos leave out two really common and deeply upsetting symptoms: lower back pain and unexplained lower belly bloating. How can these videos keep ignoring 'Endo Belly' when it's so deeply distressing to an otherwise slim and in proportion woman? :(

[saramcintosh]

She seems out of breath and a lil nervous but very informative about endometriosis. Good video.

[carissaexplainsitall]

Where are the doctors who actually care about this condition ?

[shevahmorris]

I have every single signs of it...I've been having symptoms for 6mths now..been to the DR twice and was told..."just watch" n see what happens. Cause they were assume I had an effection... even though I told them I had NO sign of yeast infection or STD.... it is so fkn sad that women are NOT being heard n mostly women of color n people with govt insurance are quickly wisk away. No matter how u articulate and know what you're explaining it is pushed aside. I plan to go back to the ER n I wont stop until I've been " heard"....I just hope its NOT too late. especially since I want to have children. :'(

[kaleighjordan]

At 15 i was diagnosed with PCOS because I had excess body hair, acne, and only had 2 periods in a year since I was 13. I was in birth control since then until a year ago. I was regular, never late (even without the bc) up until about 5 months ago. They are now up to 6 days late, a LOTTT heavier, extremely extremely painful. I get sick to my stomach. Each period, it gets heavier and way more painful. But also up until recently, I thought every female hurt during/after intercourse. I thought it was normal. But I can't go to doctors any time soon because I no longer have insurance. Also my periods are lasting way longer than they normally do. My grandmother has uterine cancer and my mother has endometriosis with a cyst on her ovary. I'm extremely concerned

[saireygamp]

and medical therapy does not treat, stop progression or prevent a recurrence, in fact disease gets worse on medical therapy and proper treatment is delayed. To see this from a university program is distressing

[imrankhawaja]

I have an endometriosis cyst . I don't want to go for surgery. Is this decision right or wrong ?

[askjanaleigh]

She seems terrified. I feel bad for her.

[charmdaley]

Many years ago when I when to the doctor and he told me that I had this problem it was just an exray that my doctor told me to do n then he told me that what I could do to ease the pain, he recommend that I could take contraceptive on a back to back basis or go on early menopause or continue having kids to a avoid the pain, so I started to take the contraceptive for 8 years on a back to back basis then I stop for 1 years and got pregnant then the pain went away but now in my 44 age the pain is back and sometime I feel like am gonna die and my menstrual period will.last for 2 to 3 weeks if I dont start back the contraceptive, now when I have my menstrual cycle I would have a bowel movement for almost 3 times for the second day of my menstrual period doctor I really need some help .why do I really believe that I have this problem with out doing a surgery is be cause the symptoms are the same plz I need some help to make the pain go away

[juliegarcia]

Can one have endo. Even though I been thru menopause but i still have lots of pain every month