I have a pretty big threshold for pain, but when I had endometriosis I used to lay down and cry the pain was so bad. It's like someone ripping at your insides with a claw hammer. I had two laparoscopies and numerous D&Cs. My gynecologists, all male, kept telling me to pretty much suck it up because they wanted to keep me putting out my own hormones for as long as possible. One gyno even told me to have a baby because that would cure it. Er-no thanks.
Finally, after 20 years of horrible pain I got a female gyno who took one look at my ultrasounds and told me that a hysterectomy (I was in my late 40s then) was an option. It turned out that I couldn't have a baby even if I wanted one because my uterus was caked with adhesions and scarring and wouldn't be able to expand. I never wanted kids anyway, so I practically danced to the operating room. I had a total hysterectomy, and am now happily in menopause. I'll take the hot flashes any day.