Painful periods, pain during sex, or bowel symptoms around your cycle can affect much more than your physical comfort. If you wonder whether endometriosis may be involved, Davie ObGyn can help you take the next step.
Understanding Endometriosis
What is endometriosis?
Endometriosis occurs when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside it. These areas can cause inflammation and scarring. Unlike the uterine lining that leaves the body during a period, this tissue is located elsewhere.
Common symptoms and red flags
- Period pain that limits normal activities.
- Deep pain during or after sex.
- Pelvic pain between periods.
- Pain with bowel movements or urination, often around a period.
- Difficulty becoming pregnant.
Symptoms vary, and the amount of pain does not reliably show how extensive the condition is. The Office on Women’s Health explains endometriosis.
When to get urgent care: Sudden severe pain, fainting, fever, or pain with possible pregnancy requires urgent assessment for other causes.
Why an in-person evaluation matters
An exam and imaging can help identify possible causes and guide treatment. Ultrasound may detect endometriosis-related ovarian cysts or some deeper disease, but a normal exam or ultrasound does not rule out endometriosis.
Your Endometriosis Evaluation
- Review your symptoms: Include timing, missed activities, sexual pain, and pregnancy goals.
- Discuss an examination: An abdominal or pelvic exam may provide useful information.
- Consider imaging: On-site ultrasound may be appropriate; specialist imaging is sometimes needed.
- Plan treatment or further evaluation: Treatment may begin based on a clinical assessment without surgery. Laparoscopy may be considered when it would clarify the diagnosis or guide care. ACOG’s diagnostic guideline addresses these decisions.
Personalized Treatment Options
Options may include pain-relief medication, hormonal birth control, progestin treatment, or other hormone-suppressing medicines. Some require monitoring or additional medication to reduce side effects.
Pelvic floor physical therapy may help associated muscle pain. Surgery may be appropriate for selected patients, with specialist referral when needed.
Your pregnancy plans matter: hormonal suppression used for pain is not a fertility treatment while you are taking it. The Office on Women’s Health reviews management options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need surgery before starting treatment?
Not always. A clinical assessment may support starting treatment without surgical confirmation.
Does a normal ultrasound mean nothing is wrong?
No. Some forms of endometriosis are not visible on routine ultrasound.
Can I become pregnant with endometriosis?
Many people can. Others benefit from fertility evaluation and treatment.
Is hysterectomy a guaranteed cure?
No. Endometriosis can exist outside the uterus, and pain may have more than one cause.
A Thoughtful Approach to Persistent Pain
Davie ObGyn provides board-certified evaluation and on-site ultrasound when indicated. We serve Davie, Cooper City, Weston, Plantation, and Pembroke Pines, with care guided by your symptoms and goals.
For an emergency, call 911. Not sure what you need? See our patient resource center.
Medically reviewed by Rahil Malik, MD, FACOG, board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist. Last reviewed: September 26, 2026. This page is general information and does not replace a visit with your doctor.