Endometriosis Excision Surgeon

Dr. Alex Childs

Birmingham (Homewood), Alabama

Synopsis

A pelvic pain specialist who left general OB behind, and will tell you when someone else is a better fit

Dr. Childs gave up general obstetrics to focus entirely on chronic pelvic pain, which means every patient walking through the door has the same category of problem. What also stands out is that in a publicly posted statement, Dr. Childs names the surgeons he refers complex cases to when he believes they are better equipped to handle them. That kind of transparency is not common and says something about how he approaches patient care. He may not be the last stop for every patient, and he is upfront about that. For many patients in Alabama and the surrounding region, he is a meaningful first stop for Endometriosis care.

Endometriosis Focus

Full-time pelvic pain specialist; no longer practices general OB

Dr. Childs stopped practicing general obstetrics to focus exclusively on chronic pelvic pain, with endometriosis listed as a primary specialty. Treatment data from patient review platforms shows endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain treated at significantly higher rates than similar providers. Training includes a two-year fellowship in chronic pelvic pain and advanced gynecologic laparoscopy, completed in Birmingham under the late Dr. Paul Perry, the founder of the practice Dr. Childs joined in 2005. Dr. Childs has stated publicly: "I no longer treat OB patients, so this is truly my focused profession. I am fully dedicated to the care and evaluation of patients with chronic pelvic pain in a gynecological setting."

In a publicly posted statement, Dr. Childs openly refers complex excision cases to surgeons regarded as more specialized, naming the Endometriosis Center in Atlanta, Dr. Robert Furr in Chattanooga, and Dr. Nicholas Kongasa specifically. This transparency about surgical scope is consistent with multiple patient community accounts. Dr. Childs has described himself as primarily a pelvic pain specialist rather than a high-volume excision surgeon, and frames this distinction as a matter of honest patient care.

Surgical Method

Performs excision surgery; refers cases beyond surgical scope

Excision is explicitly listed as a specialty on the practice profile. Multiple patient accounts describe undergoing laparoscopic excision surgery. Patient community sources, including Nancy's Nook, independently confirm excision is performed. Cases considered beyond surgical scope are referred to more specialized excision surgeons rather than proceeding. Both robotic and laparoscopic approaches appear to be available, though specific detail on how the approach is determined by case is not publicly documented.

Ask directly

  • Do you perform excision, ablation, or both? What factors determine which approach you use?
  • Do you use robotic or manual laparoscopy, and does that vary by case?

Other Areas of Specialty

Treats the full spectrum of chronic pelvic pain conditions

Beyond endometriosis, Dr. Childs treats interstitial cystitis (chronic bladder pain), pudendal neuralgia (nerve pain in the pelvic region), vestibulodynia (pain at the vaginal opening), pelvic floor muscle pain, irritable bowel syndrome, and nerve entrapment conditions that can result from prior surgery. These conditions frequently co-occur with endometriosis and are part of the core clinical focus of the practice.

Multidisciplinary Approach

Colorectal support available; refers to pelvic floor physical therapy

Nancy's Nook reports a colorectal team is available when needed. Patient accounts describe bowel adhesions, endometriosis, and a bladder lesion being found and removed in a single surgery. A separate patient account describes being referred to a pelvic floor physical therapist and becoming pain-free within three months as a result, with no further medication required. Referrals to pelvic floor physical therapy appear to be part of the practice's standard toolkit for appropriate cases.

Ask directly

  • Do you work with colorectal, urological, or thoracic surgeons for complex cases, and how is that coordinated?
  • Do you recommend pelvic floor physical therapy as part of treatment, and do you have providers you refer to?

Diagnosis Methods

Hour-long first appointments; thorough history and in-office ultrasound

Initial visits last an hour or longer and are structured around identifying as many sources of pain as possible. The process includes a full review of prior records, imaging, and surgical history, along with an in-office ultrasound performed during the first visit. Examination covers the abdomen, gynecological organs, and pelvic floor muscles. A majority of patients report having seen five or more physicians before reaching Dr. Childs. Most patients arrive via referral from general OB/GYNs who have determined a case requires more specialized care.

No public information found on stated views regarding the limitations of standard imaging for diagnosing endometriosis, or diagnostic philosophy for patients who have never had surgery.

Ask directly

  • Do you consider a negative ultrasound or MRI sufficient to rule out endometriosis?
  • What is your process for diagnosing endo in a patient who has never had surgery?

Educational Presence

Institution-produced video content; no personal social media or endo-specific research found

A profile video produced by Brookwood Baptist Medical Center features Dr. Childs discussing pelvic pain medicine and the practice. A separate video produced by OB-GYN South features Dr. Childs addressing individualized endometriosis treatment. Both are institution-produced rather than surgeon-run content. A 2016 feature in Birmingham Medical News includes substantive quotes from Dr. Childs on his practice philosophy and patient approach. This is the only independent media feature found in the endo or pelvic pain space.

Confirmed memberships include the International Pelvic Pain Society, American Academy of Pain Management, and Fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. The practice profile states that more than a dozen articles have been published and numerous lectures presented, though no specific titles or conference names are documented in any publicly accessible source. No endo-specific publications were found on PubMed. All confirmed publications are from the residency and fellowship period and are unrelated to endometriosis. No personal social media presence was found on Instagram, X, or any other platform.

Patient Feedback

Patterns Across Patient Feedback


Positive pattern

Mixed or notable

Recurring concern

Patients consistently report finally feeling believed after years of dismissal or misdiagnosis. This pattern is one of the most frequently repeated across Healthgrades, WebMD Care, Together Women's Health, Vitals, and patient community sources.

Patients describe feeling genuinely listened to and not rushed during appointments, with time taken to understand each patient's full history. This appears consistently across every review platform.

Multiple accounts describe endometriosis, bowel adhesions, or bladder involvement being identified and treated in the same surgical procedure, including in patients whose prior surgeries had missed these findings.

Patients travel significant distances to reach Dr. Childs, with accounts from three to five or more hours away. Patient community sources describe him as one of the only excision surgeons in Alabama.

Multiple independent accounts across Healthgrades, WebMD Care, Together Women's Health, and patient community sources describe prayer before surgery as part of the experience. These accounts frame this positively.

Wait times of six to eight months or longer are mentioned across every platform reviewed. Several patients waited more than a year. This appears structural and consistent rather than an anomaly - the practice is referral-heavy, time-intensive, and serves a large geographic area with few alternatives.

A small number of accounts cite rude or unhelpful nursing staff. This is a minority concern appearing in two accounts across all platforms reviewed, isolated against a strongly positive pattern of staff feedback that specifically names nursing and NP team members by first name.

One account on Healthgrades describes pain management being discontinued following a change in insurance coverage to Medicaid. One account only - insufficient to identify a pattern, but noted for patients in similar insurance situations.

One account on RateMDs describes a serious post-surgical outcome involving multiple subsequent hospitalizations, emergency visits, and additional surgeries, including a hysterectomy attributed to the original surgery. One account only - insufficient to identify a pattern.
The consistent wait time of six months to over a year is worth factoring into your planning. Patient community sources note that Dr. Childs himself has publicly acknowledged referring more complex cases to surgeons with greater excision specialization. Patients who may need high-complexity excision may want to raise this directly at their first appointment.

Post-Surgical Care

No public information found

No public information found on post-surgical follow-up structure, who conducts follow-up appointments, how soon after surgery the first follow-up occurs, or the stated approach to hormonal treatment after surgery.

Ask directly

  • Do you see patients personally at follow-up appointments, or does someone else from your team?
  • How soon after surgery is the first follow-up appointment?
  • For how long do you continue to see patients after surgery?
  • Do you recommend hormonal treatment or birth control after surgery, and what is your reasoning?

Philosophy and Fit

Values and beliefs worth considering when evaluating fit

Dr. Childs has stated that his approach is centered on finding pain generators and treating them, and that he does all he can to prevent pain. Patient accounts describe him as someone who presents options and confirms a patient is comfortable with the treatment plan before proceeding. In a public statement, Dr. Childs described his role as first to admit the limits of his own surgical skill while remaining committed to getting each patient the most comprehensive care possible, including through referral when appropriate.

Dr. Childs is a member of Alabama Physicians for Life and the Christian Medical and Dental Association. Multiple patient community sources note an openly pro-life stance. Patients across several platforms independently describe religious elements as part of their care experience, including prayer before surgery. For patients whose reproductive health decisions or personal values may intersect with a surgeon's stated beliefs, this is information worth considering when evaluating fit.

Ask directly

  • What percentage of your surgical cases involve endometriosis?
  • Do you treat patients who want to preserve fertility, and how does that affect your surgical approach? If adenomyosis is found during surgery, how do you handle that in a patient who wants to preserve fertility?

Sources

  1. Alabama Center for Urogynecology and Pelvic Pain - Provider Profile
  2. OB-GYN South - Provider Profile and Patient Reviews
  3. Together Women's Health - Provider Profile and Patient Reviews
  4. Birmingham Medical News - "Pelvic Pain Specialist Helps Restore Women's Lives" (2016)
  5. Facebook - Dr. Childs public statement on surgical scope and referrals (OB-GYN South)
  6. Facebook - Dr. Childs on individualized endometriosis treatment (OB-GYN South)
  7. Doximity - Credentials, training, and publications
  8. YouTube - "Meet Dr. Alex Childs, Pelvic Pain Specialist" (Brookwood Baptist Health, 2020)
  9. WebMD Care - Patient reviews and ratings
  10. Healthgrades - Treatment frequency data and patient reviews
  11. RateMDs - Patient reviews
  12. Vitals - Patient reviews
  13. Nancy's Nook - Excision confirmed, colorectal team confirmed (closed forum, not publicly linkable)
  14. Patient community accounts - Reddit r/Birmingham, OB-GYN South, Yelp
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FAQ
Why did you make this directory?

Who you choose for your surgeon matters more than most people realize. The wrong surgeon can mean missed disease, unnecessary surgeries, and years of pain that didn't have to happen. This is what happened to me.

Finding the right one is not a guarantee, but can drastically improve the outcome of your surgery. This directory pulls together publicly available information and patient-reported patterns in one place, so you can walk into a consultation prepared.
Where did you find this information?

This directory was built using publicly available information from a wide range of sources, including surgeon websites, medical publications, advocacy resources, social media, and submissions from my social media community.

If they show on this list, it means a surface-level check confirmed endometriosis is a primary focus of their practice.. Once their name is linked to a profile, it means I have completed and published my deeper independent research on that surgeon.
How are surgeons selected?

Most OBGYNs are trained to do a lot of things: deliver babies, manage general gynecological care, perform routine surgeries. This is important work, but Endometriosis is a different skill set.

Endo can look different in every patient, hide in unexpected places, and requires specific training and a high volume of cases to recognize and remove well. A surgeon who splits their time across general obstetrics and gynecology is not the same as one who has made endometriosis and similar conditions the focus of their practice.

Every surgeon listed here publicly identifies endometriosis as a high focus of their work, and that has to be verifiable through public sources: their own website, a hospital profile, a professional directory, published interviews, or similar.

Can a surgeon be removed from the directory?

Surgeons are included on the list based on the criteria listed above.

Personal conduct, social media behavior, and online controversy are not criteria for inclusion or removal. The directory exists to help patients find skilled surgeons, not to weigh in on personality or public opinion.

A surgeon could be removed if I find a credible, documented pattern of patient safety concerns, loss of medical license, or conduct that directly impacts the quality or safety of patient care.
Why isn't my surgeon listed?

Absence from this directory doesn't mean a surgeon is unqualified. It means I either haven't found them yet, or couldn't find enough public information to confirm that endometriosis as a genuine focus of their practice. The directory is a living resource and will keep growing with your help.

Use the "submit feedback" button above to suggest a surgeon for review or share your experience with a surgeon.
Can I suggest a surgeon?

Yes, please! Use the "submit feedback" button above.

A submission is a request for consideration, not a guarantee of inclusion. Every surgeon goes through the same research process regardless of how they came to our attention, whether that's a patient suggestion, a surgeon submitting themselves, or my own research. The information found is the information published, good or bad.
I have a surgery coming up but the surgeon profile isn't ready!

Send me a message on Instagram or TikTok (@wulfwomen), I am happy to skip ahead and help research your surgeon before your surgery date. <3

If the surgeon you're looking for doesn't meet the criteria, I will let you know. If they do, I will create the full profile and publish it here on this page.

How often is this updated?

I plan to go through the list every three months and make updates. I hope to add feedback as I get it, but I am only one person and it may take some time.

What should I do if information in a profile is wrong?

Please let me know via the "submit feedback" button above.

I really appreciate all feedback and more eyes on this. I've worked very hard to make sure this is accurate, but there is always a chance something could slip through. I review all submissions and make corrections as quickly as I can.
There's no surgeon in my city or state!

Check out the surgeons in your neighboring states. Many them operate out of multiple locations.
How do you collect patient feedback?

Patient feedback is pulled from publicly available sources like reviews and community forums. Some feedback is submitted directly to me via the "submit feedback" button above.

I take this feedback and fold it into the summaries in the profiles, rather than including every review word for word.

Why are some profiles more detailed than others?

Profile depth reflects what's publicly available, not the quality of the surgeon. That said, a sparse profile is worth paying attention to. Surgeons who specialize in endometriosis tend to have a presence in the patient community. If a profile is thin on reviews and information, that's a sign to do more research and ask a ton of questions.
Is this directory AI-assisted?

Yes, and I'll be upfront about it. I could not have built this without AI.

I am doing the research on each surgeon, then asking AI to check the internet for search for additional public sources.

Then, I ask AI to help with the first draft of the profile content. I read it and fix it manually to make sure it's accurate based on my research.

Lastly, I ask AI to build the code for me to make the profiles look nice on the website.
How is this different from Nancy's Nook or iCareBetter?

I have the utmost respect for Nancy's Nook, she helped me find my specialist. I have had her page listed on my website for a year now, but noticed very few people are clicking the link I provided. The younger generations aren't using facebook as much as we used to and I wanted something easier to access for all ages.

I also wanted to provide a service that could pull information from all over the internet and make it easy to view in one place.

iCareBetter has great information, but much of the information on there is surgeon submitted or sponsored. The Wulf Women list is a place for all information to be found, regardless of where it came from.

Do you make money from this directory?

No. I will never accept payment from any surgeon listed here, and this directory does not generate income for me.

Who are you?

My name is Debrah (Deb) Stark. I'm an endo patient who learned the hard way how important specialty care is. I promised myself after my second surgery I would do everything I could to help other women navigate endometriosis care. My mission is to give women enough information to help them make the right medical decisions for themselves.

You can find me on TikTok and Instagram as @wulfwomen .

“For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack.”
-Rudyard Kipling,The Jungle Book