Endometriosis Is More Than Period Pain: Symptoms, Treatment & Fertility with Dr. Mallory Stuparich
Endometriosis affects an estimated 1 in 10 women, yet diagnosis can still take years. Some women experience debilitating period pain or GI symptoms, while others have little obvious pain and first encounter endometriosis during an infertility evaluation. How do you know when endometriosis could be the cause, and what should happen next?
In this episode of the As a Woman podcast, Dr. Natalie Crawford talks with Dr. Mallory Stuparich, a board-certified OB/GYN and fellowship-trained minimally invasive gynecologic surgeon specializing in endometriosis and complex pelvic pain. They explain why endometriosis can be missed even after an ultrasound, how birth control and excision surgery serve different goals, what to consider about fertility before surgery, and how to choose care based on your symptoms and priorities.
Endometriosis Is More Than Period Pain: Symptoms, Treatment & Fertility with Dr. Mallory Stuparich
IN THIS EPISODE:
00:00 Endometriosis Symptoms, Treatment, and Fertility
01:21 Meet Dr. Mallory Stuparich
04:32 What Is Endometriosis?
06:09 What Do the Stages of Endometriosis Mean?
07:33 Why Does Endometriosis Take So Long to Diagnose?
09:03 What Are the Symptoms of Endometriosis?
10:35 Does Endometriosis Run in Families?
11:52 When Is Period Pain Abnormal in Teenagers?
13:01 Can Endometriosis Cause GI Symptoms?
13:58 What Are the Treatment Options for Endometriosis?
16:20 Does Birth Control Treat Endometriosis?
18:45 Can Birth Control Prevent Endometriomas?
21:15 Ablation vs. Excision Surgery for Endometriosis
25:04 When Is Lupron Used for Endometriosis and IVF?
28:00 How Does Endometriosis Affect Fertility?
29:22 Should You See a Fertility Specialist Before Endometriosis Surgery?
32:27 Can Repeat Endometriosis Surgery Improve Fertility?
34:25 How Do You Choose an Endometriosis Surgeon?
36:01 When Is Surgery Used to Diagnose Endometriosis?
37:47 Can Ultrasound Diagnose Endometriosis?
39:26 When Do You Need an MRI for Endometriosis?
41:32 Where Can Endometriosis Grow?
42:31 Endometriosis vs. Adenomyosis: What’s the Difference?
43:50 How Is Adenomyosis Treated Before IVF?
45:21 Can Lifestyle Changes Help Endometriosis?
48:49 Can GLP-1 Medications Help Endometriosis?
50:24 What New Endometriosis Tests Are Being Studied?
51:14 How to Advocate for Endometriosis Care
Guest Resources:
Host Resources:
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Youtube Channel: Natalie Crawford MD
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This episode is brought to you by The Pinnacle Podcast Network.