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How Pelvic Pain and Endometrioma Led to Endometriosis Surgery

Writer's picture: Her Health Voice StaffHer Health Voice Staff


Dr. Lillian Medhus is no stranger to women’s health. As a Women's Health Nurse Practitioner & Certified Nurse Midwife, she has dedicated her career to supporting and educating women about their bodies. 


However, her personal experience with endometriosis, coupled with a history of thyroid cancer and autoimmune disorders, has given her a unique perspective—one that blends both the provider and patient experience.

Smiling woman with a stethoscope, wearing a green floral dress, leans against a red brick wall. Urban background, sunny day.


Early Signs of Endometriosis and the Search for Answers


Lillian’s journey with endometriosis began like so many others. “My cycle started when I was probably in fifth grade, but within a few years, I had extreme pain with periods and it would make me stay in bed all day,” she recalls. “I was using heating pads and lots of ibuprofen.”


“Honestly, I figured I would have to figure it out myself.”

Her mother eventually took her to an OBGYN, where she was prescribed birth control pills. “For years, it worked really well for me. So that was fine and I was managing okay,” she says. But when she stopped taking it in college, her symptoms worsened. “I was having heavier cycles, longer cycles, lots of pain. The pill just wasn’t really working the way that it did before, and I was having a lot of mood changes with it as well.”


Without a clear diagnosis or understanding of what was happening, Lillian turned to self-management. “Honestly, I figured I would have to figure it out myself.”


Managing Endometriosis Alone 


For the next ten years, Lillian relied on a combination of ibuprofen, Tylenol, heat packs, TENS units, and Epsom salt baths. “As things started to progress more in my late 20s and early 30s, especially with other health conditions layered on top, I started to explore an anti-inflammatory diet,” she explains. While it helped her autoimmune conditions, it didn’t seem to improve her menstrual cycles.

"...I couldn’t do that anymore.”

Despite her medical knowledge and daily encounters with endometriosis patients in her clinic, she resisted conventional treatment options. “To be honest, I didn’t want any of them. I kept managing on my own—until it came to a head a couple of years ago where


Endometrioma, Pelvic Pain and Endometriosis Surgery


Lillian’s turning point came when she started experiencing severe pelvic pain that wasn’t tied to her cycle. “It finally got to the point where I knew this was bad enough. I need to see another healthcare provider, not just trust myself to deal with it.”


An ultrasound revealed a large endometrioma, a cyst caused by endometriosis. “That’s what turned into a surgery for me. I had my left ovary removed and I had endometriosis excised.”


Woman smiling, holding a clear speculum against a beige wall. She's wearing a blue and white patterned sweater. The mood is lighthearted.

Initially, she had planned to see an excision specialist trained through the Mayo Fellowship, but due to the rapid growth of the endometrioma and concerns about possible malignancy (especially given her history of thyroid cancer), she was referred to a gynecologic oncologist instead.


“She did do some excision, but unfortunately, she doesn’t do complete excision the way that the other provider would have. But my pain so far has been well controlled. I’m thankful.”


"To be honest, things are better than they’ve ever been. So I wish I would have done it a long time ago.”

For years, Lillian had resisted hormonal treatments due to past experiences with mood swings and depressive symptoms. However, after her surgery, she decided to try a progestin-only pill. “To be honest, things are better than they’ve ever been. So I wish I would have done it a long time ago.”


Lessons in Self-Advocacy


As both a patient and a provider, Lillian understands the challenges of advocating for oneself in the healthcare system. “I recognize that I have a great privilege coming into this conversation because I am a provider. The way that I speak to providers gives me a different perspective.”


She encourages patients to keep track of their symptoms, document previous treatments, and find a provider who truly listens. “ I have a lot of patients that come in and say, I’ve already tried birth control, and I don’t want to try that again—which is fair. But there are also hundreds of types of birth control, so it’s important to know what you’ve tried, how long, and what the side effects were.”


Expanding Access to Women's Healthcare


Motivated by her own endometriosis experience, Lillian is launching Aspire Women’s Wellness, a boutique clinic specializing in chronic pelvic pain, sexual medicine, and menopause management. 


“I have seen in my practice there’s a lot of overlap between these areas. People with endo often have pain with intercourse. Pain with intercourse leads to issues with intimacy and relationships—it all just kind of goes together.”

Lillian Medhus smiling, wearing a pink jacket in a room with dark blue shelves and floral wallpaper. Books and plants decorate the background.

She aims to create a space where patients don’t have to manage their care alone. “The constant management of all of your providers—your pelvic floor PT, dietitian, primary care provider, gynecologist—it takes a lot out of you. I want to be that person who helps coordinate all of those pieces rather than the patient having to carry it all.”


Reflections on Endometriosis and Patient Advocacy


Lillian’s journey is a testament to the complexities of endometriosis, the gaps in medical care, and the importance of patient advocacy. “If you’re able to, really seek out a provider who aligns with you and who listens,” she advises. “And give yourself grace—because navigating this takes an emotional toll.”

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