Washington Endometriosis and Complex Surgery

Washington Endometriosis and Complex Surgery Minimally invasive gynecologic and colorectal endometriosis excision surgeons, supported by a dedicated GYN nurse practitioner.

We partner with you to plan your care through a multi-specialty team approach. None of our posts are medical advice.💙

09/05/2026

For Ember, this week was both clinical and personal.

A Duke nurse practitioner student who also has endometriosis, Ember joined Dr. Vargas, Dr. McHale, and Dr. Obias to learn more about specialized imaging, pelvic pain evaluation, surgery, and multidisciplinary care.

Her perspective is an important reminder: patients deserve the time to tell their whole story, and care that considers the whole picture.

We loved having you with us, Ember. 💛

09/03/2026

đŸ©ș Research matters. But does doing research simply to check a box actually make someone a better doctor?

Our Dr. Melissa McHale agrees with ’s take on the “research slop” problem and shares five things that had a far greater impact on the doctor and surgeon she became. Some of them may surprise you.

09/02/2026

A “peer-to-peer” is when your insurance company requires your doctor to explain to another doctor why the care they ordered is medically necessary before they’ll approve it.

In this case, it took weeks and three missed calls to confirm that, yes, seeing the entire re**al mass before operating is reasonable. A spectacular use of two physicians’ time, and an even better use of a patient’s time waiting for necessary care. 🙃

08/27/2026

Once upon a time, no surgery meant no endometriosis diagnosis. Validation depended on the treatment you chose. Medicine is moving away from this — and as our Dr. Melissa McHale explains, we think this change is for the better.

Current ACOG guidance recognizes a clinical diagnosis based on a patient’s symptoms and history. Imaging that shows endo further supports the diagnosis and is HIGHLY specific for endo (but remember that imaging can’t exclude it!). Surgery with pathology is the most specific and still the “gold standard,” but it is no longer the only acceptable way to *really* diagnose endo.

Why does this matter? A patient can be diagnosed and treated as an endometriosis patient without first having surgery. For many, that can be an important first step toward getting the care they need.

Endometriosis can involve far more than the reproductive organs. When disease reaches the bowel, bladder, nerves or othe...
08/19/2026

Endometriosis can involve far more than the reproductive organs. When disease reaches the bowel, bladder, nerves or other complex anatomy, surgery may require more than one specialty.

That’s why we founded WECS as a multi-specialty endometriosis surgical practice. We plan for complex disease before surgery so patients understand what to expect before the go into the OR and so the appropriate specialists can be in the room from the start.

Our goal: precise, thorough excision while preserving healthy organs and anatomy whenever possible.

08/11/2026

Pretty flowers, serious question: Is AI coming for radiologists? 🌾

At the ISON Congress in Morelia, Mexico, Dr. Melissa McHale checks that Dr. Wendy VanBuren is, in fact, real before asking the bigger question. Do we still need expert radiologists in the age of AI?

We’ll let Dr. VanBuren, a nationally recognized expert in MRI evaluation of endometriosis, take this one.

08/08/2026

Dr. Melissa McHale is in Morelia, Mexico, this weekend for the International Society of Neuropelveology (ISON) conference, learning, connecting, and apparently eating very well.

One of her favorite lectures explored the role of pelvic nerves in uterine function and fertility. Preserving the uterus is important, but so is preserving the nerves that help it function. It’s another reason why a deep understanding of pelvic neuroanatomy matters in complex gynecologic surgery.

Every so often, a patient’s story reaches far beyond the exam room.This week, Baylen Dooley shared part of hers on TLC’s...
08/05/2026

Every so often, a patient’s story reaches far beyond the exam room.

This week, Baylen Dooley shared part of hers on TLC’s Baylen Out Loud, including her visit with our co-founder, endometriosis specialist Dr. Melissa McHale.

Endometriosis affects 1 in 10 women and can involve multiple organs throughout the body. While painful periods are often the symptom people recognize, the disease can also affect the bowel, bladder, diaphragm, and other organs, leading to symptoms such as painful bowel movements, bloating, urinary symptoms, fatigue, pain with s*x, back, hip, leg, or shoulder pain, and infertility. Some people have little or no pain at all.

Because symptoms vary so widely and awareness continues to grow, many people spend years searching for answers before they’re diagnosed.

Viewers saw a few minutes of an appointment that lasted over an hour. Even a few minutes can help someone recognize a symptom they didn’t know could be related, ask a question they hadn’t considered, or feel seen for the first time.

Thank you, Baylen, and to every patient who trusts us with their story. Every story shared helps someone else understand their own.

https://www.washingtonendometriosis.com/baylen-out-loud-endometriosis-specialist/

08/02/2026

Some people with endometriosis describe a sudden, sharp re**al pain during a bowel movement, especially around their period. Many know it as “lightning butt.”

There are several possible causes of this symptom. In this video, colore**al surgeon and bowel endometriosis specialist Dr. Vincent Obias explains his theory for why deep endometriosis involving the rectovaginal septum may contribute to it in some patients. Understanding the possible source of pain is one step toward asking better questions and receiving a more targeted evaluation.

Living with endometriosis has a way of making people question themselves.If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re “making ...
08/01/2026

Living with endometriosis has a way of making people question themselves.

If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re “making too much of it,” this is your reminder: you know your body better than anyone. Your symptoms, your concerns, and your questions deserve to be taken seriously.

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5225 Wisconsin Avenue Suite 600
Washington D.C., DC
20015

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