Endometriosis

Maybe you’ve finally had enough. Years of painful periods and half a dozen different medical consultants — but no relief. Is there any hope?

There is hope. Specialists who understand the often under-recognised and under-diagnosed condition known as endometriosis can help you find a path forward from the pain and toward relief. Because, the fact is, endometriosis pain can make it difficult to go about your daily life. But Cleveland Clinic London offers the highest level of care and uses a team approach to treat all degrees of endometriosis, including the most severe complex cases. Our experts can help you feel better — even if previous therapies have not been successful.

We have all the necessary consultants, tests and therapies in one centre. These offerings enable us to provide holistic care, addressing the many ways endometriosis affects your life.

Highlights of our endometriosis centre include:

• Expertise: You receive services from highly qualified consultants who are leaders in the field. All have trained and worked in the U.K.’s top teaching hospitals and offer decades of experience. We diagnose endometriosis quickly and use the best available therapies, including minimally invasive endometriosis surgery.
• Personalised therapies: Endometriosis affects each person differently and there are many treatment options. We want to know your personal experience, your story.  So we’ll listen carefully as you describe your concerns and care goals. Consultants then tailor services, including medical (non-hormonal and hormonal options) and surgical therapies, to help you achieve the best possible results.
• Support: Our team includes an endometriosis nurse specialist. They can see you during clinic visits and provide helpful information between appointments for a less stressful experience. Whether you have a treatment question or a new or worsening symptom, you can turn to us for help and support.
• Leadership: Our consultants share knowledge and best practices with providers from all over Europe. They direct medical education courses and invite other gynaecologists to observe procedures using innovative methods. Consultants also hold leadership positions in national and international endometriosis professional societies.

Endometriosis symptoms can mimic those of a typical period but can be severe enough to impact your life. They can also affect your other pelvic organs, abdomen and diaphragm. And you may have already seen multiple consultants — only to be told there’s nothing wrong.

Sometimes, it can take up to 10 years to receive a correct diagnosis. This is why it’s essential to seek care from endometriosis specialists, such as the ones at Cleveland Clinic London. We make a prompt diagnosis and coordinate timely, personalised treatments that bring much-needed relief.

We work with other Cleveland Clinic London consultants to coordinate the services you need. In addition to three gynaecologists and our endometriosis nurse specialist, your care team may include:

• Colorectal surgeons treat endometriosis affecting the bowels.
• Pain medicine consultants deliver specialised therapies that quiet down nagging pain (including nerve blocks).
• Radiologists perform advanced imaging studies to pinpoint endometriosis growths throughout the body.
• Upper gastrointestinal (GI) surgeons remove growths affecting the top part of the digestive system.
• Urologists remove growths impacting bladder function.
• Thoracic surgeons address endometriosis growths in the diaphragm or lungs.
• Dietitians help you find foods that ease inflammation.
• Physiotherapists (physical therapists) guide you through therapies that relieve pelvic pain.

Endometriosis Surgery (Excisional Surgery)

Surgery to remove growths (endometriosis excision surgery) and repair organ damage is a common treatment for severe endometriosis symptoms. Gynaecologists often collaborate with other surgeons to deliver more therapies in a single procedure. This approach helps you start feeling better sooner and avoid multiple procedures.

Consultant endometriosis specialists use techniques that are gentler on your body, including laparoscopic and robotic surgery that require only small incisions. We are conscious of bowel and bladder function and use nerve-sparing surgical principles.

If you wish to become pregnant someday, we also use fertility-sparing techniques. Gynaecologists remove endometriosis through excisional surgery, with methods that are less disruptive to the uterus and ovaries.

Additional Endometriosis Services

If you wish to start or expand your family, we perform fertility assessments. They typically involve a physical examination, ultrasound and blood tests. This information helps determine the likelihood of conceiving naturally or whether you may benefit from seeing a fertility specialist.

Even if treatment is successful, endometriosis symptoms sometimes come back, especially if you had a severe case. If this happens to you, we perform assessments and explain care options.

Gynaecology Self-Pay Services

Contact us or call +44 80 0098 1747 for more information about endometriosis evaluation and treatment. 

We make it easier to access expert care in the U.K. Read more about payment information, including options for self-pay and private medical insurance. If you are coming to us from another country, learn more about coordination available through Global Patient Services.