Careful evaluation
A detailed history, pelvic exam and ultrasound come first. Imaging does not always show endometriosis, so the pattern of symptoms matters a great deal.
Services
Endometriosis care in Houston
Endometriosis is often painful, often missed, and too often dismissed. Dr. Balat is a lifetime member of the Endometriosis Association and treats it medically and with minimally invasive surgery.
What endometriosis is
In endometriosis, tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside it, most often on the ovaries, the ligaments behind the uterus and the lining of the pelvis. It responds to hormonal cycles, causing inflammation, pain and scar tissue.
Many women wait years for a diagnosis, told their pain is normal. It is not.
Diagnosis and treatment
Medical management
Hormonal treatments that quiet the cycle, along with pain management, control symptoms for many women without surgery.
Minimally invasive surgery
When surgery is needed to confirm the diagnosis or remove disease, Dr. Balat performs minimally invasive procedures at the Binz Surgery Center, with small incisions and a quicker recovery.
Endometriosis and menopause
Symptoms often ease after menopause as estrogen falls, but not for every woman, and endometriosis can occasionally stay active. A history of endometriosis also shapes menopause care. If you are considering hormone therapy, including after a hysterectomy, your plan may be structured differently to lower the chance of the disease returning.
Because Dr. Balat treats both conditions, those decisions are made together rather than by two separate specialists.
A team with a shared focus
Nurse practitioner Angela Montgomery has a special interest in the diagnosis and management of endometriosis and other chronic gynecologic conditions, and works alongside Dr. Balat in your care.
Get answers about pelvic pain
Book a visit at the Binz Street office, or start with an online consultation if you would rather talk first.