Skip to main content

Endometriosis Specialist

Sherry Neyman, MD

Gynecology & Wellness Specialists located in Austin, TX

The exact cause isn’t known, and some women don’t have symptoms, but endometriosis is most common among women in their 20’s through their 40’s. Sherry Neyman, MD, MS, FACOG, is a leading gynecologist and women’s wellness expert in Austin, Texas and specializes in treating endometriosis to help manage painful symptoms and improve your chances of getting pregnant if that is a goal. When other methods don’t provide relief, Dr. Neyman is an expert at performing da Vinci® surgery for endometriosis. To learn more about treatments for endometriosis, call Dr. Neyman’s office to speak to her all-female team or schedule a consultation online.

Endometriosis Q & A

What is endometriosis?

Endometriosis is a condition in which the inner lining of your uterus grows outside of the uterus. It can grow around your uterus, fallopian tubes, and surrounding tissues that hold your uterus in place in your abdomen. Additionally, endometrial tissue can grow around your cervix, vagina, bowels, or bladder.

Endometriosis can be painful because the tissue that grows outside your uterus continues to act like a normal uterine lining, meaning it thickens, breaks down, and bleeds each month with your normal menstrual cycle. Since it has no way to exit your body, it becomes trapped. If endometriosis surrounds your ovaries, you may develop cysts as a result.

What are the symptoms of endometriosis?

Endometriosis symptoms may include:

  • Painful periods and menstrual cramps
  • Pelvic pain
  • Painful sex
  • Painful bowel movements or urination during periods
  • Infertility
  • Fatigue
  • Diarrhea or constipation
  • Bloating
  • Nausea
  • Bleeding between periods

The severity of your condition does not always correlate with the extent of your endometriosis pain either. For example, you may have mild endometriosis and intense pain or more advanced endometriosis with zero to mild pain. As a result, endometriosis is sometimes hard to diagnose and is often mistaken for other conditions like pelvic inflammatory disease or irritable bowel syndrome.

What are the treatment options for endometriosis?

To treat the symptoms of endometriosis, Dr. Sherry Neyman may prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen and naproxen sodium. These drugs can help relieve pelvic pain and menstrual cramping, but they don’t cure your endometriosis.

Additionally, Dr. Neyman may prescribe hormonal birth control methods to extend your monthly cycle. As a result, you only have a few periods each year or none at all. Progesterone Intrauterine devices (IUDs) can also help reduce pain and bleeding, but this only works if you have mild symptoms and you’re not trying to become pregnant.

If your endometriosis is more severe, surgery may be the best option, especially if you’re having fertility issues. Dr. Neyman is a leader in her field of gynecological surgery using the latest da Vinci® robotic-assisted surgery technology. The da Vinci system provides a minimally invasive option that allows Dr. Neyman to cauterize or remove endometrial tissue through just a few tiny incisions in your abdomen, instead of a large, open incision, as is the protocol with conventional, open surgery.

If you experience painful periods and have a family history of endometriosis, schedule an appointment online or call Dr. Neyman’s caring office team to get the treatment you need.