Expert endometriosis treatment

Endometriosis affects 1 in 10 women, yet it’s often misunderstood. The condition can cause debilitating pain and may affect fertility. But there is hope. With the right care, women can find expert treatment close to home and reclaim their lives.

Northwest Women’s Care is the only facility in Idaho offering excision of endometriosis by fellowship trained minimally invasive gynecologic surgeons. Excision surgery removes endometriosis from the body, bringing women long term relief and preserving their chances of having a baby.

What is endometriosis?

Endometriosis is caused by tissue similar to the lining of the uterus growing where it shouldn’t, triggering inflammation and a cascade of pain. Endometriosis commonly grows on the walls of the pelvis, near or on a woman’s ovaries, fallopian tubes, bladder, bowel, uterus, ureters, appendix or even higher up in the abdomen.

Because endometriosis produces its own hormones, it sometimes continues to grow after menopause. The condition may begin as early as age 8 and persist well into a woman’s 60s or 70s.

Signs and symptoms

Pelvic pain is the most common symptom of endometriosis. It typically starts with intense menstrual cramps (dysmenorrhea). The pain tends to worsen over time, sometimes hurting so much that people can’t work, go to school, drive, or keep up with their daily activities.

Severe cramps aren’t the only symptom, however. Other signs of endometriosis include:

• Pain with intercourse
• Pain with bowel movements
• Pain with urination
• Infertility
• Bloating
• Nausea

Pain from endometriosis can sometimes radiate to the low back or down a leg.

Break the vicious cycle of endometriosis

Because endometriosis symptoms overlap with other conditions, many women go years without a definitive diagnosis. Women often first try traditional treatments for menstrual pain, such as hormone therapy, but may fail to find relief.  Hormonal therapy can treat pain from endometriosis in some women, but does not remove endometriosis or restore fertility.  Surgery that involves burning lesions, also called ablation or fulguration, cannot treat deep endometriosis and often leaves behind inflammatory disease leading to persistence of symptoms.

When these treatments fail, women can lose hope. They also feel as though nobody understands what they’re going through. But hope—and lasting treatment—is available, and it’s closer to home than most women think.

Endometriosis excision surgery

Surgery for excision of endometriosis is a safe and effective treatment that removes endometriosis lesions from the body, reducing pain. Complete excision or surgical removal of disease has been shown to greatly improve fertility outcomes.

During excision surgery, a fellowship trained minimally invasive gynecologic surgeon uses a laparoscope to carefully remove endometriosis lesions and scar tissue around the pelvic organs, including crucial structures that cannot be touched by ablation surgery such as the bowel, bladder, or ureters. Our surgeons aim to restore the natural anatomy of the pelvis while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue. Though minimally invasive, recovery from excision surgery typically takes three to six months and often includes pelvic floor physical therapy.

Who’s a candidate for excision surgery? Women who experience persistent pain or infertility from endometriosis, or those who have had other treatments without success, may qualify for excision surgery.

Northwest Women’s Care: A national destination for endometriosis treatment

Women from across the country and even internationally turn to Northwest Women’s Care in Post Falls for expert endometriosis treatment. Our team includes the only board certified, fellowship trained minimally invasive gynecologic surgeons in Idaho and they are experts in complex pelvic surgery and excision of endometriosis. We are also the only practice in north Idaho offering pelvic organ prolapse surgery (colpopexy) and tubal ligation reversal.

Our team offers a full range of services, from routine care to advanced surgical procedures. When women walk through our doors, they’ll receive compassionate, personalized gynecologic care that puts their health and wellbeing first. All surgeries are performed at Northwest Specialty Hospital in Post Falls, voted Best Hospital in North Idaho for 2025 by The Business Journal of North Idaho.

Meet our endometriosis experts

Our surgeons are internationally recognized leaders in endometriosis treatment, published authors, and pioneers in the latest surgical techniques. We are committed to building lasting, trusted relationships with our patients and providing the highest level of care.

Dr. Laura Young

Laura Young, MD, is a board certified, fellowship trained minimally invasive gynecologic surgeon who specializes in the treatment of pelvic pain, endometriosis, irregular bleeding, uterine fibroids, and complex pelvic pathology. She has dedicated her career to providing comprehensive, knowledgeable care marked by compassion for her patients.

“I encourage women who aren’t getting the answers they want to seek a second opinion. At Northwest Women’s Care, you don’t even need a referral. Just pick up the phone and give us a call.”

Learn more about endometriosis

Hear directly from our endometriosis experts on these videos, forums, and podcasts

• Dr. Laura Young discusses excision surgery at Northwest Women’s Care
• Podcast: All Things Endometriosis with Dr. Adam Duke
• Podcast: The Vocal Pelvic Floor with Dr. Adam Duke