Dr. McQuillen Says Endometriosis Can Be Debilitating, But There Are Options Available
By Andrew Wilson
Kourtnie McQuillen, M.D.
For Kourtnie McQuillen, M.D., of St. Clair Medical Group OB/GYN, the best part of her job is when she can bring relief to a woman who is experiencing very painful menstrual cycles due to endometriosis.
“We don’t have to live with pain,” said Dr. McQuillen. “There are options we have available to improve the situation.”
Excessively painful periods may be a sign of endometriosis, a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside of the uterus. The endometriosis tissue acts just as the tissue growing inside the uterus does. It thickens, breaks down and bleeds, but unlike the tissue growing inside the uterus, endometrial tissue doesn’t leave the body. This causes inflammation which can lead to scar tissue formation among surrounding organs. This scar tissue causes surrounding organs to stick to the uterus, hampering the proper functioning of both the uterus and affected organs. The pain can be so great that women with endometriosis find it impossible to function for a couple days during their period and need to miss school or work.
“Many women have a misconception that having painful periods are normal,” said Dr. McQuillen, an OB/GYN specialist with expertise in minimally invasive surgery and robotic surgery. “What’s not normal is having to miss school or work because of it.”
There are both medical and surgical options to treat endometriosis. Medical options include prescribing birth control pills or giving a medication to simulate a medical menopause. Dr. McQuillen says that while this may bring relief, it may not be the final answer.
“With minimally invasive surgery, we can excise the lesions of endometriosis, as well as removing scar tissue and any adhesions that occur,” she said. “By removing the scar tissue, we are able to restore normal anatomy and functioning of any affected organs.”
In the cases when the bowels are affected, Dr. McQuillen says she will work in concert with a colorectal surgeon, but most often is able to surgically treat the endometrial tissue by herself.
One memorable case for Dr. McQuillen was when she treated a 15-year-old for endometriosis that had affected her digestive tract. Before being diagnosed with endometriosis, the teen and her mother had consulted with several gastrointestinal specialists, but no treatment had brought relief from the intense pain that was seriously limiting her life. Dr. McQuillen diagnosed her and performed surgery, which returned her to normal functioning.
“Afterwards, her mother was crying thanking me for restoring her teenager’s life to her,” she said. “Those are the moments that make it totally worthwhile, when you can improve someone’s life to such an extent.”
Unfortunately, Dr. McQuillen cautions that endometriosis can be chronic in nature, so it may return. However, once it is diagnosed the first time, both patients and doctors are alert for the signs that can signal a return.
The symptoms of endometriosis include the following:
Painful periods
Excessive bleeding
Pain with bowel movements or voiding
Painful intercourse
Bloating sensation that may occur all the time, not just during menstrual flow
“This is a disease that can be really, really debilitating,” Dr. McQuillen said. “Women who have these symptoms need to know that there are options available. We don’t have to live in constant pain.”
Dr. Kourtnie McQuillen earned her medical degree from Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine and completed her residency training at West Virginia University. She’s an advocate for women at every stage of their lives and takes special pride in being a part of a woman’s journey.
She sees patients at the following St. Clair Health locations:
Robinson Township Multispecialty Suite
1 Robinson Plaza, Suite 410
Pittsburgh, PA 15205
412-788-1330
Professional Office Building
1050 Bower Hill Road, Suite 205
Mt. Lebanon, PA 15243
412-942-1066
Village Square Outpatient Center
2000 Oxford Drive, Suite 415
Bethel Park, PA 15102
412-942-5380