If you’re one of the 11+% of American women who suffer with endometriosis — a problem where endometrial tissue grows uncontrolled in other places in your body besides your uterus — you’re more likely to have a tougher time getting pregnant.
Since your body can’t eliminate the extra tissue as it would when you have your period, it fuels scarring and the development of cysts.
The painful condition can cause discomfort when you urinate or have a bowel movement, heavy periods, painful sex, and even intestinal pain. Menstrual cramps often worsen, and you may bleed between periods or suffer digestive problems. But the worst symptom of all, if you’re trying to conceive, is fertility problems.
Dr. Peter Khamvongsa has extensive experience helping patients with endometriosis and offers advanced treatment for the condition, along with many complex gynecologic treatments and procedures. He and his team are with you all the way in supporting your goal to become pregnant.
Unfortunately, the inappropriately growing tissue that emerges where it shouldn’t can block your fallopian tubes, grow outside your uterus, and even enter your ovaries, and present an obvious obstacle to becoming pregnant.
It’s believed that approximately half of women with infertility issues also have endometriosis.
Endometrial tissue can:
These problems can cut your ability to conceive by up to 50%, but if you seek treatment, you and Dr. Khamvongsa can discuss what you can do to increase your chances of becoming pregnant.
Dr. Khamvongsa’s recommendations often depend on how severe your endometriosis is.
If your endometriosis is mild to moderate, you may be able to become pregnant without treatment. There are also hormonal medications that can slow the growth of endometrial tissue, but these can also negatively impact your fertility, so you’ll need to halt those while trying to get pregnant.
If your endometriosis is more advanced, surgery is a preferred treatment. Fortunately, Dr. Khamvongsa has helped many women, including international patients, by performing surgery to remove unwanted excess endometrial tissue.
Dr. Khamvongsa performs minimally invasive robotic surgery whenever possible, because of its many benefits for his patients. This revolutionary surgical method allows him to use the sophisticated da VinciⓇ platform, which he controls during the entirety of the surgery.
Dr. Khamvongsa actually uses a computerized console to direct robotic “arms” during the procedure. Robotic surgery capabilities allow him to have a level of precision while performing the surgery that’s unprecedented.
But don’t come away with the idea that Dr. Khamvongsa isn’t in complete control of the surgery when he’s using the robotic platform. He directs what happens during every phase of surgery, and is significantly aided by the surgical device in making manipulations and subtle movements that manually performed surgeries simply cannot.
Unlike traditional open surgery where the surgeon typically makes one or more large incisions, minimally invasive surgery requires them to make only one or two very small ones.
The result for the patient? A faster recovery period, less pain, reduced bleeding and scarring, and a smaller likelihood of post-surgical infection.
We also employ a specific approach as you recover: Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS). What we do to optimize your healing is provide education before your procedure, a defined approach to pain management, as well as focused monitoring and well-defined follow-up care after your surgery, among other protocols.
You couldn’t be in better hands if you’re hoping to conceive while managing endometriosis. Don’t give up hope. Call our office at 786-220-2184 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Khamvongsa at his Miami, Florida office, or book one online.
