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General

Who is this website for?

The short answer

This website is for people seeking clear, trustworthy guidance about endometriosis, related gynecologic cancers, and other complex pelvic conditions. It is designed to help you understand symptoms, testing, and treatment pathways so you can make informed decisions about your care.

This website is for people seeking clear, trustworthy guidance about endometriosis, related gynecologic cancers, and other complex pelvic conditions. We created it to help you better understand symptoms, testing, and treatment pathways so you can make informed decisions about your care.

Many readers come here because they’re considering treatment with our team, but this information can also help anyone researching next steps or trying to make sense of a new (or long-delayed) diagnosis. If you’d like individualized guidance, you’re welcome to contact us to schedule a consultation so we can review your history and goals together.

Where to go from here

Understand it, compare it with what you're feeling, then talk it through with us.

Speak with Us

Unsure About Your Symptoms?

We understand how confusing pelvic pain and symptoms can be. Our specialists provide clear guidance on diagnosis and treatment options for endometriosis and related conditions.

Questions people ask next

All general questions
  • How do I know if I have endometriosis?

    Disruptive period pain, pelvic pain between periods, pain with sex, and cycle-linked bowel or bladder symptoms can suggest endometriosis. Symptoms alone cannot confirm it, and normal ultrasound or MRI cannot rule it out.

  • How do I know if online endometriosis advice is evidence-based?

    Evidence-based endometriosis advice usually points to peer-reviewed research, explains what is known and uncertain, and describes benefits and risks. Be wary of promises to cure everyone, absolute language, or testimonials presented as proof.

  • How do I tell endometriosis from IBS, IC, or pelvic floor dysfunction?

    Timing is a key clue: endometriosis symptoms may flare around periods, ovulation, or deep penetrative sex. IBS is more linked to meals and stress; IC commonly causes urinary symptoms with negative urine cultures, while pelvic floor dysfunction tends to cause muscle spasm and pain with sitting.

  • Does endometriosis increase cancer risk?

    Yes, endometriosis is associated with increased ovarian cancer risk, especially clear cell and endometrioid types. The increase is relative to people without endometriosis; absolute risk remains low, and most people with endometriosis never develop cancer.

Reach Out

Have a question?

Lotus Endometriosis Institute provides California-based surgical evaluation and advanced excision care for patients with suspected endometriosis, adenomyosis, complex pelvic pain, and related conditions.


Many patients contact us from outside California to learn whether traveling for in-person evaluation and possible surgery may be appropriate.

Call Us

(424) 255-1340

(805) 920-0909

Fax: (805) 935-4338

Santa Monica, CA

2121 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90404

Operating Hours

8am - 5pm
Monday - Friday

Arroyo Grande, CA

154 Traffic Way, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420