Endometriosis Specialist Perth

Severe endometriosis: How one surgery can make a difference

Author: Sean Copson
First published: September 6, 2024

Endometriosis can be tough for many women. When it gets severe, finding the right care is important. As a specialist in severe endometriosis in Perth, I’m here to help and guide you through your treatment options.

Severe endometriosis Perth

What is severe endometriosis ?

Endometriosis occurs when tissue, much like the lining of the uterus, starts growing outside of it. This can be painful – sometimes extremely painful – and can cause difficulties with fertility.

Endometriosis is classified into four stages, with stage 4 being the most severe. But it is important to know that the stage doesn’t always reflect how much pain you might feel.

“It is possible to have mild endometriosis and experience severe pain, or to have advanced endometriosis with discomfort but not extreme pain.”

Understanding the stages of endometriosis is really important, especially when it comes to fertility. That is why catching it early and getting the right treatment is important.

The impact of endometriosis on fertility

Endometriosis can make it harder to fall pregnant, especially with more advanced stages. For anyone who is having difficulty falling pregnant, it is important to consider endometriosis as a possibility, especially if you have symptoms such as painful periods. It is important to remember that a normal ultrasound does not exclude endometriosis.

Excision of endometriosis in the early stages or in those who have a collection of endometriosis (endometrioma) can improve the chances of falling pregnant naturally and therefore may reduce the need for IVF or other fertility treatments. The evidence for surgery to help with fertility in more advanced stages of endometriosis (stage 3 & 4) is less clear but should be discussed with an endometriosis specialist.

If you’re having trouble getting pregnant and think endometriosis might be the reason, it is important to get checked out.

The importance of proper diagnosis and imaging

Laparoscopy has always been considered the gold standard for diagnosing endometriosis. It is a surgery that allows us to see the condition directly. However, not every gynaecological surgeon has the experience or is willing to take on more severe cases.

"If severe endometriosis is diagnosed, you may be referred to an endometriosis specialist for laparoscopic excision of endometriosis."

To avoid having to undergo multiple surgeries, I work with high-quality ultrasound and MRI imaging. It shows us how far the disease has spread and whether other organs, like the bowel or bladder, are involved. This way, I can be fully prepared to excise the endometriosis in one surgical procedure, no matter how advanced it is.

"Instead of using laparoscopy purely for diagnosis, I focus on using it as a comprehensive treatment tool.” "

If you suspect you have severe endometriosis and you want to avoid multiple surgeries, I recommend you request an appointment and I’ll guide you through this process in more detail.

My qualifications and approach

My background includes extensive training in obstetrics, gynaecology, and advanced laparoscopic surgery.

I completed an additional two-year fellowship with the Australian Gynaecological Endoscopy & Surgery Society (AGES), which is a national program focused on complex laparoscopic surgeries, particularly for endometriosis and this is the highest level of training for complex endometriosis surgery in Australia.

"Holding an ‘AGES’ Fellowship means I am qualified to handle all stages of endometriosis."

In some severe cases, endometriosis may impact other organs, like the bowel or bladder. When this happens, we often need to involve other specialists, such as a urologist or a colorectal surgeon.

The benefit of my approach is that I coordinate with these specialists as part of your treatment plan, making sure that everything is managed in one go. This reduces the need for multiple surgeries and helps you recover more quickly.