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Endometriosis Specialist

Women 2 Women Medical Center

G. Lara Bhatnagar, MD

OBGYN located in Irvine, CA

One in 10 women during their childbearing years have endometriosis, an often painful condition that can make it hard to get pregnant. If you’re struggling with heavy, painful periods or infertility, G. Lara Bhatnagar, MD, a board-certified OB/GYN with Women 2 Women Medical Center, can determine whether you have endometriosis. She tailors treatment to your life stage and family planning goals. Call her office in Irvine, California, today, or schedule a consultation online.

Endometriosis Q & A

What is endometriosis?

Endometriosis is a health problem in which the lining of your uterus (endometrium) grows on your ovaries, Fallopian tubes, peritoneum, and other locations outside of your uterus. 

Endometriosis can cause long-term pelvic pain. It also may cause such symptoms as:

  • Heavy periods
  • Painful sex
  • Cramps

If endometrial tissue is growing on your bowel or bladder, your bowel movements or urination may be painful. However, many women who have endometriosis experience no symptoms. 

Endometriosis is usually diagnosed in your 30s or 40s. If you're experiencing the symptoms of endometriosis, rely on the caring, all-women team Women 2 Women Medical Center to diagnose and treat your condition.

Does endometriosis cause infertility?

Endometriosis causes inflammation, growths, and scarring that interferes with the movement of eggs and sperm through your uterus and Fallopian tubes. Nearly 40% of women with infertility have endometriosis. You may wish to discuss infertility treatments with the team at Women 2 Women Medical Center.

How do I know whether I have endometriosis?

The only way to tell you if you have endometriosis is through a minimally invasive outpatient procedure called laparoscopy. The procedure uses a slim device equipped with a tiny camera and requires just one to three tiny incisions.

Dr. Bhatnagar, who has performed more than 1,000 surgeries, is highly skilled in this procedure. She performs a laparoscopy to both diagnose and treat endometriosis. 

How is endometriosis treated?

Once Dr. Bhatnagar diagnoses you with endometriosis, she recommends a holistic, evidence-based approach that's tailored to your condition. Treatments are based on the severity of the endometrial growths, your symptoms, age, and whether you'd like to bear children.

For low-grade endometriosis, she typically suggests hormonal medications. These medications work by slowing the growth of the endometrial tissue, but they cannot remove endometrial tissue that’s already there. 

Dr. Bhatnagar recommends one of these medications or others:

  • Birth control pills
  • Progestin-only medications
  • Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists

In other cases, she recommends minimally invasive procedures, such as laparoscopy to remove the endometrial growths. 

For compassionate women's health care, call Women 2 Women Medical Center today, or book an appointment online to discuss endometriosis.

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