Endometriosis Specialist

Rocky Mountain Fertility Center

Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility Specialist located in Parker, CO & Rapid City, SD

In women undergoing surgery for infertility, 48% have endometriosis, a condition that causes endometrial tissue to develop outside the uterus. If you struggle with pelvic pain or infertility, endometriosis might be to blame. At Rocky Mountain Fertility Center in Parker, Colorado, and Rapid City, South Dakota, reproductive endocrinology and fertility specialist Deborah Smith, MD, uses innovative endometriosis treatments to restore fertility and your quality of life. Call Rocky Mountain Fertility Center to learn more or use the online scheduler today.

Endometriosis Q & A

What is endometriosis?

Endometriosis occurs when functional endometrial tissue that’s normally present in your uterus develops outside of the uterus. Common sites for endometriosis include:

Ovaries
Behind the uterus
Fallopian tubes
Vagina
Cervix
Bowel
Bladder

Endometrial tissue thickens, breaks down, and bleeds during your menstrual cycle, as it does when it’s in your uterus, but becomes trapped when it can’t exit your body. Endometriosis can result in pelvic pain or fertility problems.

What are the symptoms of endometriosis?

The following signs and symptoms may indicate you have endometriosis.

Pelvic pain, which is sometimes severe
Painful menstrual periods
Excessive menstrual bleeding
Pain with intercourse
Fatigue, constipation, diarrhea, or bloating during periods
Infertility
Pain with urination or bowel movements
Tender uterus or ovaries
Sharp pains in your rectum
A mass behind your uterus

Pain associated with endometriosis might be mild or severe, or you may have no pain at all. If you experience difficulty getting pregnant, pelvic pain, or both, the experienced reproductive endocrinology and fertility specialists at Rocky Mountain Fertility Center help diagnose your condition.

What causes endometriosis?

Numerous factors can lead to endometriosis. In retrograde menstruation, menstrual blood flows back through your fallopian tubes instead of outside the body.

Hormone and immune factors can transform certain cells into endometrial cells, or fail to destroy endometrial tissue growing outside your uterus. Endometrial cells can also attach to a surgical incision after surgery.

What is the treatment for endometriosis?

To diagnose endometriosis, a specialist at Rocky Mountain Fertility Center reviews your medical history and symptoms, completes a pelvic exam, and utilizes imaging tests.

They use laparoscopy or laparotomy to confirm an endometriosis diagnosis and review treatment options with you, which might include:

Medications

Medications to treat endometriosis include oral contraception (birth control pills), a contraceptive injection called Depo Provera, and other medications that affect your hormones.

Surgery

To treat severe endometriosis, your provider may recommend surgery. If you don’t want to have children in the future, they might suggest a hysterectomy to remove your uterus and ovaries. Minimally invasive laparoscopy is an option if you’d like to become pregnant in the future.

For patients with endometriosis, what fertility treatments are available?

If you struggle with infertility because of endometriosis, fertility specialists at Rocky Mountain Fertility Center are here for you every step of the way. They offer numerous infertility treatments to help you achieve your dream of becoming a parent.

Your doctor might recommend in vitro fertilization (IVF), intrauterine insemination (IUI), intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), or assisted hatching to increase the chance of an embryo implanting into your uterus.

Don’t live with pain or infertility associated with endometriosis when you don’t have to. Schedule an appointment with Rocky Mountain Fertility Center by phone or online today.