At PRM, we understand and emphasize the importance of patients finding accurate information about their pelvic health conditions. With endometriosis being one of the most missed, dismissed, and misdiagnosed conditions in women today, we want to clarify some common misconceptions about the disease. We asked Dr. Amro Elfeky, PRM Gynecologic Surgeon in Dallas, to provide insight into common myths about bowel endometriosis.
Here are the common misconceptions that Dr. Elfeky hears from his patients in the office:
Does Bowel Symptoms = Bowel Endometriosis?
Myth: “I have endometriosis and bowel symptoms—so I must have bowel endometriosis.”
Fact: Endometriosis can coexist with other GI disorders like IBS and IBD, so bowel symptoms aren’t always due to bowel infiltration.
Surgery Is Needed Because of Imaging Results
Myth: “My MRI shows bowel involvement, so I need surgery—even if I feel fine.”
Fact: Surgery is generally not required for asymptomatic bowel endometriosis.
Surgery Didn’t Work
Myth: “I had surgery, but some symptoms are still here—it didn’t work.”
Fact: Surgery can significantly reduce symptoms, but some may linger due to factors like extent of disease, central sensitization, or coexisting conditions.
If you are experiencing endometriosis symptoms that affect your quality of life, surgery doesn’t always have to be the first step. At PRM, we offer the PRM Protocol™ to reduce inflammation in the pelvic floor, which is shown to reduce pain and symptoms from endometriosis.
About Amro Elfeky, MD, FACOG
Dr. Elfeky takes a personalized, multidisciplinary approach to treating endometriosis, recognizing that it is a complex and often underdiagnosed condition with diverse symptoms. By maintaining a high suspicion for endometriosis, he ensures a thorough evaluation and implements a multimodal treatment plan to achieve optimal symptom relief as quickly as possible.
His goal is to maximize the benefits of surgical excision by integrating additional treatments, helping patients achieve lasting symptom improvement and a prolonged symptom-free interval.
