Endometriosis specialists are doctors who have been trained in the specifics of this medical condition. Though this condition can be treated by a general practitioner or gynecologist, many patients choose to go to a doctor who specializes in the treatment of endometriosis. For many women, successfully managing this condition requires treatment for as long as the woman continues to ovulate. Developing a long-term plan for the treatment of this disorder can require the expertise of endometriosis specialists.
In many cases, endometriosis specialists begin their careers as gynecologists. This condition only occurs in women who have active reproductive cycles and, as such, is treated by doctors with expertise in the treatment of adolescent and adult women. Endometriosis specialists may study the causes of and treatments for this condition and may also be experienced with surgery of the abdomen and female reproductive system.
Endometriosis is a condition in which endometrium, the material that lines a woman's uterus each month in preparation for the possibility of a pregnancy, grows outside the uterus. A common disorder, endometriosis specialists are still unsure as to why the condition develops, though it does seem to run in families. It is believed that the condition begins at the onset of puberty, though it doesn't often cause symptoms until a woman is in her twenties or thirties.
In order to treat women with this condition, endometriosis specialists are skilled at identifying this disorder and providing possible treatment options. Mild endometriosis may not require immediate treatment, though all women with this condition should see a gynecologist frequently to make sure that the condition isn't worsening. More severe forms of the disease may require treatment with medication or surgery.
Before deciding on a treatment plan, endometriosis specialists will go over a patient's life plans carefully. Left untreated, endometriosis can lead to permanent problems with the reproductive system. Hormonal treatments that prevent the woman from developing endometrium can also interfere with a woman's ability to become pregnant, though these effects will usually wear off once treatment is stopped. The only total cure for this disorder is a complete hysterectomy along with the removal of the ovaries, a procedure that is only performed on women who are positive that they do not wish conceive a child.
In order to support their patients throughout treatment, endometriosis specialists may also be skilled in surgery of the abdomen. Endometriosis can cause the growth of endometrium throughout the abdomen, and this material may need to be removed. A hysterectomy can also be performed by a surgeon who has specialized in the treatment of endometriosis.