For women who live with endometriosis, monthly cramps can put them out of commission for days. The condition can also lead to infertility.

Trouble is some of the treatments have serious side effects and can't be used long term. Now local researchers are looking for a better solution.

"This isn't PMS, this isn't menstrual cramps. This is clearly beyond that," said Dr. Robin Kroll, Women's Clinical Research Center. "These are women who end up in emergency rooms during their period or who are unable to work."

Elizabeth Davis knows the symptoms all too well. Hers is an extreme case.

"In total I've had about nine surgeries and a total of 13 hospitalizations, if you include some of the complications from the surgeries and those two episodes where running set off some of the adhesions," said Davis.

Endometriosis occurs when the tissue lining the uterus migrates to other parts of the body and bleeds during the monthly cycle. Birth control pills are often prescribed to control the pain, but for some women they aren't enough. Unfortunately, other drugs have troubling side-effects.

"They work by putting a woman into medical menopause," said Kroll. "It shuts everything down. And while they shut the endometriosis down, they also shut down production of estrogen that keeps bones healthy, that prevents hot flashes, that supports vaginal tissue. So those side effects are significant and those drugs and can't be use long term. They're used for six months, sometimes a year.

Davis tried Depo Provera for a time.

"The depo does help with some of the chronic pain, but the trade off is that it gives you, it mimics, menopause symptoms. So you're having hot flashes constantly. It's one thing or the other," said Davis.

In the Petal study, participants will get an injection of an investigational medication every three months, plus a daily pill. Because this is a random study, the injection or the pill may be a placebo. Another upcoming study will involve an oral medication only.

So the search is on for something better, something that suppresses the endometriosis, treats the pain, but doesn't have adverse side effects. Elizabeth Davis is hopeful this will be the answer she's looking for.

"At this point I wouldn't say I've found anything," said Davis. "I just live with it basically."

To qualify for the Petal study, women need to be between the ages of 18-49 and diagnosed with endometriosis within the last seven years. For more information, call the women's clinical research center at 206-522-3330 or go online at wcrcseattle.com/UpcomingStudies.html.