As a board-certified urogynecologist and reconstructive pelvic surgeon, I meet many women who have lived with pelvic pain for years before seeking answers. Some have been told their symptoms are just part of having a menstrual cycle. Others have adjusted their work, exercise, relationships, and daily routines around pain that has slowly become their “normal.”
One condition that can be especially frustrating and difficult to live with is endometriosis.
Endometriosis occurs when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus. This tissue can cause inflammation, irritation, scarring, and pain. For some women, symptoms are most noticeable around their period. For others, pelvic pain can become more persistent and interfere with daily life throughout the month.
What I want patients to understand is this: pelvic pain is real, it deserves to be taken seriously, and there are treatment options available.
What Endometriosis Can Feel Like
Endometriosis does not look the same for every patient. Some women experience severe symptoms, while others may have subtle signs that are easy to dismiss. The level of pain does not always match the extent of the disease, which is one reason evaluation is so important.
Patients may describe:
- Painful periods that interfere with daily activities
- Chronic pelvic pain or pressure
- Pain during or after intercourse
- Lower back or abdominal discomfort
- Pain with bowel movements or urination, especially around the menstrual cycle
- Heavy or irregular bleeding
- Bloating or digestive discomfort
- Difficulty becoming pregnant
Because symptoms can overlap with other gynecologic, bladder, bowel, or pelvic floor conditions, patients may go a long time without a clear diagnosis. That uncertainty can be exhausting, especially when pain affects quality of life.
Why Patients Often Wait to Seek Help
Many women are used to minimizing their pain. They may have been told that painful periods are normal, that they should take medication and wait it out, or that symptoms will improve on their own. Some patients feel embarrassed discussing pelvic pain, painful intercourse, or bowel and bladder symptoms.
But when pain causes you to miss work, avoid exercise, cancel plans, dread your period, or feel disconnected from your body, it is time to get evaluated.
You should not have to organize your life around pelvic pain.
How I Approach Evaluation
At Advanced Women’s Health NJ, my first priority is to listen carefully. I want to understand what the pain feels like, when it happens, how long it has been present, and how it affects your life.
An evaluation may include a detailed medical history, pelvic exam, imaging when appropriate, and a discussion of your symptoms and goals. In some cases, endometriosis can be suspected based on symptoms and exam findings. In other cases, surgical evaluation may be needed to confirm and treat the condition.
The goal is to develop a plan that is individualized to you. That plan may include conservative treatment, medication, hormone-based therapy, pelvic floor therapy, or minimally invasive surgical options depending on your symptoms, medical history, and reproductive goals.
When Robotic-Assisted Surgery May Be Considered
For some patients, especially those with persistent pain, suspected scar tissue, or endometriosis that has not responded to other treatments, minimally invasive surgery may be an important option.
Robotic-assisted endometriosis resection allows me to remove visible endometriosis lesions through small incisions using enhanced visualization and precise instrument control. This can be especially helpful in the pelvis, where delicate structures such as the bladder, bowel, uterus, ovaries, and surrounding support tissues are close together.
When appropriate, robotic-assisted surgery may help reduce pain, improve function, and support a faster recovery compared to traditional open surgery. However, not every patient needs surgery, and not every patient is a candidate for the same approach. A complete evaluation is the first step in determining the safest and most effective plan.
Endometriosis Care Should Be Personalized
Endometriosis is not just a period problem. It can affect physical comfort, emotional well-being, intimacy, fertility, and day-to-day confidence. That is why treatment should not be one-size-fits-all.
Some patients are focused on pain relief. Others are thinking about fertility. Some want to avoid surgery if possible, while others have already tried multiple treatments and are looking for a more definitive path forward.
My role is to help each patient understand what may be happening, what options are available, and what approach best fits their goals.
You Deserve Answers
If pelvic pain has become part of your normal routine, I encourage you not to ignore it. Painful periods, chronic pelvic discomfort, and symptoms that interfere with your daily life are worth discussing with a specialist.
You deserve to be heard. You deserve a thoughtful evaluation. And you deserve a care plan designed around your symptoms, your body, and your future.
At Advanced Women’s Health NJ, we help women understand the source of pelvic pain and explore treatment options that may restore comfort, confidence, and quality of life.
