The Endo Exchange Ep. 3: Navigating Emergency Pelvic Pain with Confidence
At ESSE Care, we know that for patients with endometriosis, the ER is often one of the first places their pain is dismissed. Severe flares, ruptured cysts, and frightening symptoms are too often minimized—leaving patients without answers or support.
That’s why we created The Endo Exchange, a webinar series offering real guidance, multidisciplinary insight, and the tools to advocate for better care in the moments that matter most.
In this episode, Dr. Karli Provost Goldstein is joined by two powerful voices in emergency medicine and patient storytelling to answer one essential question:
What should I do when pelvic pain becomes an emergency—and how do I get taken seriously when I get there?
Meet the Panel
👩⚕️ Dr. Karli Provost Goldstein
Board-certified minimally invasive gynecologic surgeon & Founder of ESSE Care
Explains how to distinguish between flares, ruptured cysts, and surgical emergencies—and what imaging, follow-up, and advocacy can look like after an ER visit.
Emergency Medicine Physician, San Diego
Shares how the ER system works, what it’s designed to detect, and how to use specific language and preparation to be heard and helped—even when scans look “normal.”
🎙️ Gina Carloto
Patient Advocate, Former Miss Connecticut & Founder of The Grace Collective
Tells her story of being repeatedly dismissed in the ER, how she took control of her care, and what it feels like to be seen, supported, and validated finally.
What You’ll Learn
This conversation offers patients and supporters a practical, compassionate insight into a moment many dread: showing up at the ER in pain, only to be told: “everything looks fine.”
You’ll walk away with tools and answers to help you:
- Understand how the ER works—and what it can and can’t do for endo
- Recognize when symptoms signal a true emergency
- Know what ruptured cysts and endometriomas look like on imaging
- Advocate for yourself with language that providers respond to
- Follow up with endometriosis-informed specialists after discharge
- Build a long-term plan that makes sense for your body and your goals
A Look at Real-World Tools for Emergency Care Navigation
Dr. Goldstein outlines when pelvic pain becomes surgical, what imaging is useful (and when), and how ruptured endometriomas should be managed.
Dr. Sbiroli explains how to approach ER care proactively, what tests are commonly run (and what they miss), and how to guide ER teams with your history.
Gina Carloto shares how it feels to be in pain, unheard, and told to wait months for care—and how she rebuilt her plan on her own terms with a team that respected her future.
Watch now to feel more prepared, more confident, and more seen—no matter what your body throws at you.
