TAMPA, Fla. — Tampa General Hospital is raising awareness to enhance the care of women suffering from endometriosis.

What You Need To Know

  • March is Endometriosis Awareness Month

  • The chronic disease causes life-impacting pain and can take a decade to diagnose 

  • The disease affects about 10% of reproductive-age females

  • There is no cure, so the treatment focuses on controlling symptoms

In correlation with Endometriosis Awareness Month, TGH is hosting a free screening of the film, "Below the Belt," which features inspiring stories about four women advocating for themselves. The event is sponsored by the Women’s Institute at Tampa General Hospital.

It focuses on raising community awareness of the disease, symptoms, the lifelong struggle for patients and possible treatment options to help improve the quality of life.

Deborah Onetti struggled with pain for almost twenty years.

“Even urinating was so painful, like giving birth, it was that bad,” said Onetti of the pain she experienced every day.

“In just one position, it was like something killing me on my belly,” she said of driving.

The cause of that pain went undiagnosed for almost two decades.

“After so many years, so many tests, being in the hospital so many times, ER visits so many times, they could never find anything,” said Onetti. “They even sent me to psychology, thinking it was all in my head. Of course, I got anxiety because I was in pain every day.”

Dr. Emad Mikhail, Medical Director of Gynecology at Tampa General Hospital and Associate Professor and Director of the Division of Gynecology at USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, finally diagnosed Onetti with endometriosis.

“There is no official screening method for endometriosis,” said Mikhail. “So far, ultrasound is not an approved screening tool. Actually, the only way is to listen to the patient and take the patient’s complaints very seriously.”

Mikhail also added there is also no cure for endometriosis.

Onetti’s severe case required extensive surgery.

“It was attached to my colon, attached to my bladder, attached to my vagina,” she said.

She hopes sharing her story helps other women. The medical professional knows personally and professionally the importance of a proper diagnosis.

“I didn’t give up, I just (kept) going to doctors, asking for extra tests and trying to figure it out because it’s not okay to be in pain,” said Onetti.

Mikhail said treatment using a multidisciplinary care team approach provides better outcomes. He stresses more funding is needed to research the complex disease.

While Onetti recovers from surgery, she’s back to doing things she loves, like working out.

“I feel alive again, like I can do so many things,” said Onetti.

She will be part of a panel of speakers sharing their experiences with endometriosis on Monday, March 18 at the screening of "Below the Belt" at the Tampa Theatre at 6 p.m. visit the TGH website to register for the event.