Cara Flamer, M.D. is a Women’s Health Expert in Toronto offering compassionate and customized care to women in search of relief from their symptoms associated with endometriosis. Cara Flamer, M.D. maintains the most up to date knowledge and is sought after for her holistic approach to a sustainable and well-rounded health regimen.

Endometriosis is a chronic disease that is known for causing severe pain and infertility. When cells that resemble the endometrium (cells from the uterine lining) grow on the outside of the uterus, it can wreak havoc on the pelvic area, causing inflammation, cysts, fibroids, scar tissue, and more.

The causes for endometriosis range from retrograde menstruation and hormonal conditions to surgical complications and genetics. Recent studies have shown that one in 10 women struggle with the disease in their reproductive lifetime. While there is no cure for endometriosis, holistic approaches such as diet and exercise changes and bioidentical hormone replacement therapies are highly effective treatments that can alleviate the symptoms and help reduce the inflammation and presence of out of place cells in the pelvic area.

Discover how Toronto Women’s Health and Hormone Expert Cara Flamer, M.D. can help you in your battle with endometriosis. Call Cara Flamer, M.D. at (647) 660-3168 today and schedule your consultation.

Symptoms of Endometriosis

Many women who struggle with endometriosis report difficulty using the restroom, describing painful bowel movements as a sharp, razor blade-like cutting sensation. Due to the inflammatory nature of the disease, it can squeeze the colon and urinary tract, causing the pathways to become smaller, and, ultimately, creating an inhospitable route for any excretion. This can lead to rectal bleeding, constipation or diarrhea, and urinary tract infections.

The presence of extra cells growing outside reproductive organs causes those organs to be less elastic. This means there is a pulling and stretching during intercourse that causes a great deal of pain for the woman. Also, due to the hormonal imbalances it causes, endometriosis may also lead to vaginal dryness, which compounds the pain experienced during sexual acts.

Menstrual cycles can be painful without help from disease; however, it’s been well-documented that women suffering from endometriosis often experience a great deal more discomfort during their periods. Women report substantial pelvic cramping, which can be caused by a vast list of complications from legions and cysts to traction and organ mobility.

According to recent studies, the link between infertility and endometriosis is present in up to 30% to 50% of women. Because endometriosis alters the reproductive organ anatomy and function, it creates a hostile environment for the fertilization and gestation of any eggs. Between the inflammatory and hormonal fluctuations and immune system responses, endometriosis can severely disrupt family plans.

The presence of excess tissue in the pelvic organs can trigger the uterus to shed more often and longer. Several women experience a decrease in the time between their cycles and have reported longer periods of heavier bleeding, as well as more excessive pain than normal. Some women have also expressed concern about pain and bleeding during cycles of ovulation.

When your hormones are imbalanced, you might be feeling fatigued: tired or lethargic, like a hollow shell going through the day-to-day motions. This lack of energy can be debilitating, leaving you feeling tired and unable to do the things you love. Balancing your hormones can help you get back to your passions by relieving you of your fatigue, replenishing your liveliness and youthful zest.

The pain and discomfort of endometriosis doesn’t just begin and end with period cramps. Women have experienced pain in their lower back, abdomen, and thighs, they have also reported painful intercourse, bowel movements, and an exceptionally sharp pain when cysts burst. Many women have also reported excessive gas and bloating, pinched nerves, and muscle and joint pains.

Feelings of dizziness and stomach discomfort can be related to the fatigue and excessive bleeding many women experience during their cycles. This frustrating symptom leaves a woman feeling the urge to vomit and can accompany the pain and digestive difficulties that come with the inflammation and bowel and bladder problems that are often reported.

Endometriosis is a painful and disheartening ordeal: men don’t seem to take it seriously and women who haven’t experienced it aren’t able to relate. It disrupts sleep, sex, exercise, diet, and the daily tasks we take for granted, so it’s easy to draw a link between endometriosis and feelings hopelessness, sadness, fear, isolation, and stress that plague the women who are dealing with it.

What are the risk factors?

Endometriosis affects about 1 in 10 women. While it most often affects women in their 30s and 40s, any woman in their reproductive timespan may develop the disease. That said, there are some women at greater risk. These risk factors include:

  • Shorter menstrual cycles
  • Having started menstruation at an early age
  • Heavier menstruation
  • High levels of estrogen
  • Later-age menopause
  • Not having given birth
  • Low body mass index
  • Family history of endometriosis
  • Reproductive disorders

Is there a cure?

Sadly, there is currently no known cure for endometriosis. Many doctors will prescribe medications that can help alleviate the symptoms, and severe cases may result in the surgical removal of problem cells or (worst case) a hysterectomy.

Fortunately, with some lifestyle changes and hormone therapies, endometriosis can be managed.

What are the health risks?

When left untreated, endometriosis has been linked to other life-altering health complications such as:

  • Cancer
  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Bowel Obstruction
  • Infertility and Ectopic Pregnancy
  • Ovarian Cysts
  • Autoimmune diseases

Don’t put off treatment until you get worse, especially when you can be rid of your pain and frustration altogether. Call Cara Flamer, M.D., a women’s health expert and a collaborative partner in your battle against endometriosis.

Diagnosing Endometriosis

Unfortunately, endometriosis can be difficult to diagnose and may often be overlooked or misdiagnosed due to it sharing similar symptoms with other diseases. If you feel like you may be struggling with endometriosis, the best course of action is to discuss it with your doctor. They may check you for endometriosis using one of the following methods:

  • Pelvic exams
  • Ultrasounds
  • MRIs

Each of these tactics are most effective if you have developed cysts or large masses that will alert your doctor to the presence of something out of place. Currently, the only test that provides definitive data is a surgical procedure called a laparoscopy, during which a surgeon will make a small incision near your navel and will view your pelvic area with a laparoscope.

Find Answers To Frequently Asked Questions About BHRT

Beginning a Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) protocol typically comes with several questions. We’ve gathered some of the most common questions related to starting BHRT and answered them here below. If you have any further questions or need any clarification, please contact Cara Flamer, M.D. in Toronto, who has years of experience providing women with customized bioidentical hormone plans.

How Is BHRT Different From Regular HRT?

The main difference between bioidentical HRT and other forms of HRT is the kind of hormones that are used. In regular HRT, the synthetic hormones used contain additional chemical components that allow the drug manufacturers to patent their chemicals. At best, these added components do nothing for you. At worst, your body may recognize them as foreign chemicals and they may cause unpleasant side effects.

In BHRT, the hormones used are bioidentical, which means that they are the exact chemical structure as the hormones naturally produced in your body. This means there is no risk of your body not accepting them. Plus, they are derived from natural plant sources such as yams and soy.

Can I Buy Bioidentical Hormones Online?

While you may find websites claiming to sell bioidentical hormones, there are many risks involved in purchasing hormones online. First, it is often difficult to trace the origin of these products, meaning they may not be regulated for accuracy. This leads into the second problem, which is that it is very hard to be sure of the ingredients of these products. You may not be getting hormones at all!

Finally, even if you find legitimate bioidentical hormones online, without seeing a doctor you can’t know for certain which hormones you need, what dose you need them in and what form of BHRT will work best for you. BHRT doctor Dr. Flamer can ensure that you receive proper care and treatment and that you experience minimal side effects.

What Form Does BHRT Come In?

Bioidentical hormones are prepared by a compounding pharmacy where they are produced into several forms, including pills, patches, subdermal pellets, creams, injections and more. Everyone responds to these various forms differently, and your BHRT doctor can help find the form that will most benefit you and your body.

What Is The Cost Of BHRT?

The cost of BHRT varies by the hormones needed, the doses needed, the form of BHRT and the length of time that you receive treatment. For a more accurate quote, please call to schedule a consultation.

Is BHRT Covered By My Insurance?

Because insurance plans and providers vary considerably, there is no way for us to provide a blanket statement. Your plan may cover BHRT under certain circumstances. The best course of action is to first call our office to discuss whether we accept your current insurance plan and provider. After you call us, we recommend contacting your insurance provider as a follow-up to ensure that your treatment is covered or to discuss how your treatment may be covered.

Are Bioidentical Hormones Safe?

When prescribed and supervised by a BHRT doctor, BHRT is generally safe. Dr. Flamer will review any risks or side effects associated with your particular treatment before you begin BHRT.

What Conditions Are Treated With BHRT?

Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy is used to treat a number of conditions caused by hormone imbalance or that result in hormone imbalance. In some cases, BHRT is used to treat the underlying condition while in others it is used to treat the symptoms. Below is a list of some common conditions that BHRT may be used to treat.

What If My Question Is Not Listed Here?

Patients often have a great many questions before beginning BHRT. BHRT doctor Cara Flamer M.D. in Toronto will be happy to answer any questions that you may have before, during and after treatment. Contact your BHRT doctor today with any further questions or to schedule your initial consultation.

Start Feeling Better With A Customized BHRT Plan Today! 

Toronto Cara Flamer Endometriosis

Call (647) 660-3168 to speak with local Toronto Women’s Health Expert, Cara Flamer, M.D. and schedule your consultation today!

Cara Flamer, M.D. helps women in the Toronto and the surrounding metro areas.