40% of patients struggling with infertility have endometriosis. My guess is that many more patients in the unexplained category also have endometriosis. There is a 7-10 diagnostic delay. Often Reproductive Endocrinologists are on the front line and are a part of that diagnostic delay and also part of the mistreatment of patients.
Here is what I wish Reproductive Endocrinologists would #StartAsking patients in order to diagnose endometriosis sooner and offer the best of care.
1. Do you have painful periods?
2. Do you have pain with intercourse?
3. Do you have any painful bowel movements, constipation and/or diarrhea?
4. Do you have frequent urination? History of urinary tract or kidney infections?
5. Do you have any back pain?
6. Do you have any leg pain, hip pain or sciatic pain?
7. Do you have a lot of fatigue?
8. Does anyone in your family have a history of endometriosis, unexplained hysterectomy or painful periods or undiagnosed infertility or pregnancy loss?
If a patient answers yes to a good amount of these questions, I wish they would mention endometriosis. I would want Reproductive Endocrinologists to not ONLY think about fertility, but #StartAsking:
1. How are these symptoms overall impacting your quality of life? How is your level of functioning on a daily basis, especially during your period?
If patients are truly suffering with the majority of these symptoms, I wish Reproductive Endocrinologists would tell patients that one option is to go in and do ablation on the endometriosis of the reproductive organs. But I wish they would ALSO tell patients, the majority of the disease would still remain and pain would probably not improve. I wish they would tell patients that there are other endometriosis excision surgeons that exist, who through thorough excision surgery, could remove endometriosis from the entire pelvis to give patients a better chance at relief, a better chance at a improved quality of life and improved fertility. I wish they would tell patients that going straight to IVF could result in pregnancy, but cutting out all of the disease first and reducing overall inflammation in an option with another doctor that is worth looking into.
I wish Reproductive Endocrinologists would #StartAsking :
1. Other expert endometriosis excision surgeons how excision surgery benefits their patients.
2. For referrals for their patients who are very sick and above their skill level for removal.
3. For more training in removal and treatment of the disease.
4. For methods of getting the most up to date information from those on the front lines of fighting endometriosis and infertility to best help patients.
5. Knowledge on how to discern if patients have asymptomatic endometriosis that is impacting their fertility.
6. Insurance companies to cover egg freezing for young endometriosis patients who want to preserve their fertility, just like cancer patients do.
7. For better education on how pelvic floor therapy, counseling and change in diet could also help endometriosis.
Many reproductive endocrinologists warn patients that operating for endometriosis can harm a patients fertility, why not just go straight to IVF? Operating on endometriomas, complex endometriotic cysts, is controversial and there are arguments for removing them and leaving them when attempting IVF. There is a risk for lowering egg reserve and even completely shutting the ovary down, especially for older women, when operating on them, especially with a less than competent surgeon. If a surgeon does not know how to remove it properly, the chances of endometriomas coming back are high. But there are also risks leaving them as well when attempting egg retrieval, especially if they are massive.
But what is NOT controversial is that going to an expert and having complete excision, removing inflammatory cytokines, only can improve fertility. Even if a patient decides to leave the endometriomas, going to an excision surgeon and removing all of the disease off the bladder, ureters, bowels, peritoneal wall, the area in between the vagina and the rectum, will not only help fertility but make the patient feel so much better. This in an option that a patient DESERVES to know about from their DOCTOR when talking about not only their fertility, but more importantly, THEIR OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE.
Patients go into a Reproductive Endocrinologist scared and unsure about their future. Even though patients pay doctors, somehow our culture dictates that doctors are the ones with the power. Patients often don't know any better and don't know the right questions to ask. As an advocate, I work with patients to #StartAsking the right questions every single day.
But Reproductive Endocrinologists, I implore you, YOU also need to #StartAsking the right questions, to not only patients, but to your peers who are dedicating their lives to helping only endometriosis patients. They have important information for you, important information for your patients.
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