The State of Care: Women's Health

Jan 1, 2023 | Deborah L. Blumberg
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Historically, physicians have treated endometriosis with hormonal medications to suppress estrogen levels, with surgery, or both. But for the one in 10 women with the chronic disease that causes crippling pelvic pain, depression, and infertility, these treatments are insufficient, says Jessica Opoku-Anane, MD, a gynecologic surgeon and director of Columbia’s comprehensive pelvic pain program.

“The current rates of endometriosis are so incredibly high that the traditional management we’ve been doing is not working,” Dr. Opoku-Anane says. “It’s a whole body disorder, not just what’s contained in the pelvis, so you have to incorporate methods of whole body treatment.”