MAYWOOD, IL – Tara Alonzo had suffered from the pain of endometriosis since experiencing her first menstrual period at the age of 12. By the time she had reached her 20s, the pain had become debilitating and was impacting her day-to-day life.

Endometriosis is an often painful disorder in women of reproductive age in which tissue that normally lines the inside of the uterus grows outside.

Symptoms of endometriosis include:

  • Painful periods – Pelvic pain and cramping that can begin before your period and extend several days into your period. Patients also report lower back and abdominal pain.
  • Pain with intercourse
  • Pain with bowel movements or urination
  • Excessive bleeding – Includes bleeding between periods
  • Infertility
  • Other symptoms – fatigue, diarrhea, constipation, bloating or nausea, especially during menstrual periods
"I would have to call off sick from work," said Ms. Alonzo, age 26. "There was at least one or two days where I was completely immobilized in bed. I didn't want to eat. I felt sick. It was extremely painful."

Visits to multiple doctors near her home of LaSalle, Illinois, yielded no relief and Ms. Alonzo began to consider the drastic choice of undergoing a hysterectomy. Finally, a doctor near her hometown suggested Ms. Alonzo get a second opinion with Linda Yang, MD, FACOG at Loyola Medicine Elmhurst.

Dr. Yang recommended a laparoscopic procedure to evaluate and remove the endometriosis. The procedure lasted 90 minutes and was done in an outpatient setting at the Loyola Outpatient Center in Maywood, allowing Ms. Alonzo to return home that day.

"Endometriosis is a common condition, but it's chronic," Dr. Yang said. "We try to focus on next steps that can be taken to treat the endometriosis rather than give her pain medications or move away from the problem."

Months after the procedure, Ms. Alonzo is able to better enjoy her life with her endometriosis symptoms significantly improved.

"Dr. Yang was so kind," Ms. Alonzo said. "I understand why she works where she works. Everyone at Loyola is kind and helpful and they really care about your well-being. It's not just a saying."

Loyola provides truly integrated clinical care for women needing gynecologic surgery, bringing together specialists in gynecology, gynecologic surgery, female pelvic health and reconstructive surgery and urogynecology to provide women with advanced care in a compassionate environment.

About Loyola Medicine

Loyola Medicine, a member of Trinity Health, is a nationally ranked academic, quaternary care system based in Chicago's western suburbs. The three-hospital system includes Loyola University Medical Center (LUMC), Gottlieb Memorial HospitalMacNeal Hospital, as well as convenient locations offering primary care, specialty care and immediate care services from nearly 2,000 physicians throughout Cook, Will and DuPage counties. LUMC is a 547-licensed-bed hospital in Maywood that includes the William G. and Mary A. Ryan Center for Heart & Vascular Medicine, the Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center, the John L. Keeley, MD, Emergency Department, a Level 1 trauma center, Illinois's largest burn center, the Nancy W. Knowles Orthopaedic Institute, a certified comprehensive stroke centertransplant center and a children’s hospital. Having delivered compassionate care for over 50 years, Loyola also trains the next generation of caregivers through its academic affiliation with Loyola University Chicago’s Stritch School of Medicine and Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing.   

For more information, visit loyolamedicine.org. You can also follow Loyola Medicine on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram or X (formerly known as Twitter).

About Trinity Health

Trinity Health is one of the largest not-for-profit, faith-based health care systems in the nation. It is a family of 127,000 colleagues and more than 38,300 physicians and clinicians caring for diverse communities across 26 states. Nationally recognized for care and experience, the Trinity Health system includes 93 hospitals, 107 continuing care locations, the second largest PACE program in the country, 142 urgent care locations and many other health and well-being services. In fiscal year 2024, the Livonia, Michigan-based health system invested $1.3 billion in its communities in the form of charity care and other community benefit programs. For more information, visit us at www.trinity-health.org, or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and X (formerly known as Twitter).