​As an attending physician at Partners in Obstetrics and Women's Health, a New Lenox, Illinois, practice he cofounded, Dr. Francisco Garcini builds on more than 17 years of experience as an OBGYN. In this time, Dr. Francisco Garcini has treated numerous patients with endometriosis.

Across the United States, approximately 6.3 billion females of childbearing age experience endometriosis. The condition occurs when the endometrium, which lines a healthy uterus, grows outside of the organ itself. Such growth is most common on and around the pelvic organs. It may also take place within the pelvic cavity and its lining, though rare cases may see the development of endometrial tissue elsewhere in the body.

Regardless of where it develops, endometrial tissue responds to the menstrual cycle in the same way: it grows, and sheds, though it cannot do so properly when it grows outside of the uterine cavity. This captive tissue can cause irritation, scarring, pain, and the growth of tissue that adversely affects healthy organs.

The effects of endometriosis can manifest in the patient as pain before or during menstruation. It can also lead to pain during intercourse, gastrointestinal distress, fatigue, and even infertility. Fortunately, the disorder often responds well to surgical and some nonsurgical treatments.

Dr. Francisco Garcini is an experienced obstetrician and a co-founder and attending physician at Partners in Obstetrics & Women’s Health. On his website for his separate practice in gynecologic surgery and menopause solutions, Dr. Francisco Garcini provides information about his specific areas of expertise, which include menopause and menopause treatment.

By definition, menopause is the time when a woman stops experiencing menstrual periods, usually in her 40s or 50s. Some common signs of the beginning of menopause are irregular periods, hot flashes, and trouble sleeping. Women who are experiencing menopause might also have changes in mood, often feeling sad or cranky, or lose interest in sex.

While simple fixes, like using a fan during hot flashes or learning to deal with stress to prevent mood swings, can be effective, women with moderate to severe menopausal symptoms may opt to receive menopausal hormone therapy (MHT). MHT can reduce hot flashes and night sweats, treat vaginal symptoms, slow bone loss caused by menopause, and may reduce the occurrence of mood swings.  

Francisco Garcini, co-founder and attending physician at Partners in Obstetrics & Women’s Health, has a special interest and expertise in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery, as detailed on his website, garcinigyn.com. One example of a minimally invasive surgical procedure that Francisco Garcini is familiar with is a robotic hysterectomy.

A robotic hysterectomy, also known as a robotic-assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy, is done by a trained surgeon who uses a computer to control the surgical instruments needed for the procedure. The advantage of having a robot is that its movements are smoother and more accurate than a human’s, and are better suited to operating in smaller spaces. The surgeon also gets a better view of the operation with the computer.

A hysterectomy is usually recommended for women who experience symptoms like cancerous or non-cancerous tumors, uterine prolapse, or endometriosis. A robotic-assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy may be recommended to reduce the size of the incisions, cause the patient less pain post-surgery, and provide an easier and less risky recovery.

Board certified in obstetrics and gynecology, Francisco Garcini, MD, practices his specialty in New Lenox, Illinois. He earned his MD from the Miller School of Medicine at the University of Miami and was appointed a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Francisco Garcini is proficient at dealing with menopause and conditions such as interstitial cystitis, also known as bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS).

There are several conditions included under the IC/BPS umbrella. Their causes are largely unknown, and the disorder is usually diagnosed as the result of a process of eliminating other possible conditions. The symptoms include discomfort or pain, generally recurring, in the bladder and the surrounding area. The severity and specific locations of the pain vary from one patient to the next, and sometimes even within the same individual. Other symptoms include frequent or severe urges to urinate, and sometimes both. The level of pain often changes relative to how full the bladder is.

Although no longer thought to be primarily a disorder of women in menopause, IC/BPS affects twice as many women as men. While some of the symptoms resemble bacterial infection, no bacteria have been discovered in patients’ urine, and the condition does not respond to antibiotic treatment. Because many people with IC/BPS also have fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, or other inflammatory conditions, researchers are exploring a possible link with those other conditions. Another school of thought gaining popularity within the research community is that IC/BPS may have a hereditary component, but there is no strong evidence to date that the condition runs in families.

There is no known cure for IC/BPS, which can adversely affect one’s quality of life. However, some medications and other therapies have shown promise in terms of controlling symptoms and diminishing the severity of the pain.