Dr. Mallory Stuparich

Dr Mallory Stuparich – Endometriosis Specialist

Summary: Dr Mallory Stuparich is a leading endometriosis specialist based in Los Alamitos, California, USA. Her care philosophy is grounded in multiple scientific theories, including neuroimmunological origins, coelomic metaplasia, hematogenous and lymphatic spread, and genetic predisposition. While retrograde menstruation may play a role, Dr Mallory Stuparich emphasizes that it does not fully explain cases in premenarchal girls, cisgender men, or post-hysterectomy patients.

Dr Mallory Stuparich performs excision surgery, the gold standard for removing endometriosis lesions. She provides honest, thorough discussions about treatment options, especially the limitations of hormone therapy and medications like birth control and GnRH agonists/antagonists. These therapies are palliative and symptom-focused, not curative, and often come with side effects that limit long-term use.

Post-surgery, Dr Mallory Stuparich discusses hormone therapy in three key scenarios: reducing the recurrence of endometriomas, managing symptoms from coexisting adenomyosis, or supporting patients seeking additional suppression of residual disease. Each treatment plan is customized based on patient needs and goals.

Dr  Stuparich also prioritizes comprehensive pain management using a multimodal, non-opioid-first approach. She utilizes NSAIDs, acetaminophen, gabapentin, SNRIs, muscle relaxants, and suzetrigine, prescribing opioids only for short-term postoperative relief.

Persistent pain is addressed proactively. Starting at the first consultation, Dr Mallory Stuparich evaluates all pain sources, not just endometriosis. She creates individualized plans and revisits them if symptoms persist beyond six months post-surgery, coordinating care with other specialists when needed.

Trained at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dr Mallory Stuparich offers compassionate, evidence-based endometriosis care, helping patients regain control over their health and quality of life.

What type of surgery do you perform for endometriosis: Excision

Medication: Medications for endometriosis (e.g., hormone therapy like birth control as well as GnRH agonists/antagonists) are palliative, meaning that they are aimed at symptom management. There is no guarantee that medications will directly affect the disease itself. It is crucial to discuss this very significant limitation in a fully informed consent discussion with each patient. Additionally, for GnRH agonists and antagonists, their side effect profile and regulatory guidelines associated with the medications preclude their use for extended periods of time, so in many cases, risks quickly outweigh benefits for the patients. Postoperatively, I discuss the role of hormone therapy in three circumstances:

1. Patients who had endometriomas may benefit from ovulation suppression through the use of hormone therapy in an effort to reduce the formation of future endometriomas

2. Patients who still have a uterus affected by adenomyosis may experience symptomatic improvement

3. Patients who have undergone excision, understanding that no surgeon can guarantee a complete excision, want to exhaust every resource in potentially suppressing any remaining endometriosis. The decision to use hormone therapy postoperatively is always an individual decision, and I assist in guiding my patients to the best decision for them.

Pain management, and especially pain management after surgery, is critical. I prioritize the use of non-opioid pain medications and approach pain management in a multi-modal fashion. Medications that I have used for pain management for patients include, but are not limited to, NSAIDs, acetaminophen, gabapentin, SNRIs, muscle relaxants, and Journavex (suzetrigine, a sodium channel blocker). I prescribe opioids for postoperative pain management. I do not prescribe long-term opioids in my practice.