Duke offers advanced diagnosis and treatment techniques to manage the pain and infertility associated with endometriosis.

Endometriosis occurs when tissue, normally found in the lining of the uterus and shed each month during menstruation, is found elsewhere in the body -- either on the uterus, in the ovaries, or in the pelvis.

Diagnosis

At Duke, we offer a variety of approaches to diagnose endometriosis. We offer ultrasounds, MRI scans, gynecologic exams, and laparoscopic surgery to determine the presence of endometriosis.

Laparoscopic surgery is a minimally invasive procedure where a doctor will insert a tiny camera into your belly button to view the internal organs and pelvis and look for signs of endometriosis. Because surgery is an unpleasant experience, we often use laparoscopic surgery to diagnose and treat endometriosis at the same time.

Treatment

Our doctors offer numerous treatment options for patients with endometriosis. Your doctor will help determine the best course of treatment for you. These treatments include:

• Pain medication is used to treat the painful symptoms of endometriosis.
• Hormone suppressants target the underlying causes of endometriosis, like menstrual reflux.
• Ablation occurs when a doctor burns or coagulates the endometrial lesions with the use of a tiny laser.
• Surgical excision involves cutting the endometriosis implants out entirely and sending them to a pathology lab for diagnosis. For more information about the surgical excision of endometriosis, learn about the Duke Center for Endometriosis Research & Treatment.
• Hysterectomy is the removal of the uterus. It is seen as the definitive therapy to treat endometriosis. We offer a variety of minimally invasive techniques to make this procedure less painful.

Physicians

Physicians offering this service include:

• Andrews, Paul S.
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology / General Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Broach, Amy
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology / Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery
• Cole, MargEva M.
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology / General Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Filip, Stanley J.
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology / Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery
• Price, Thomas M.
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology / Reproductive Endocrinology and Fertility
• Sobolewski, Craig J.
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology / Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery
• Yeung, Patrick P.
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology / Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery

Locations

This service is available at:

• Duke Ambulatory Surgery Center
  2400 Pratt Street, Durham, NC 27710
• Duke Center for Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery
  3116 North Duke Street, Durham, NC 27704
• Duke OB/GYN Consultants
  2406 Blue Ridge Road, Suite 200, Raleigh, NC 27607
• Duke Raleigh Hospital
  3400 Wake Forest Road, Raleigh, NC 27609
• Duke Reproductive Endocrinology of Raleigh
  2406 Blue Ridge Road, Suite 200, Raleigh, NC 27607
• Duke University Hospital
  2301 Erwin Road, Durham, NC 27710
• Durham Regional Hospital
  3643 Roxboro Road, Durham, NC 27704