Dr. Brooke Winner

Patient Feedback

Patterns Across Patient Feedback

Endometriosis Focus

Endometriosis and Fibroids as Co-Equal Primary Focuses

Dr. Winner founded Full Spectrum Fibroid & Endometriosis in December 2024, a private clinic in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle built specifically around these two conditions. Surgery is performed at Swedish Medical Center. The practice also sees patients dealing with adenomyosis (a condition where tissue grows into the uterine muscle wall, causing pain and heavy bleeding), ovarian cysts, chronic pelvic pain, and related conditions. Prior to opening Full Spectrum, Dr. Winner spent approximately five years as a MIGS specialist at Swedish Medical Center, where the practice narrowed over time to complex surgical cases involving primarily endometriosis and large fibroids. The fellowship at Washington University in St. Louis was similarly focused on severe endometriosis and large uterine fibroids, with colorectal surgeons and a specialized endometriosis protocol MRI integrated into training from the start.

Multidisciplinary Approach

In-House Team for Pre- and Post-Surgical Care, Specialist Network for Complex Cases

Full Spectrum Fibroid & Endometriosis was built around a multidisciplinary care model. The in-house team includes a second gynecologic surgeon (Dr. Nicole Kretzer, MD PhD, who has a background in immunology and trained informally with Dr. Winner for three years), a dietitian specializing in endometriosis nutrition, an acupuncturist and Chinese herbalist specializing in women's health and fertility, a pelvic floor physical therapist, a naturopathic doctor, a licensed acupuncturist, and a psychotherapist. The non-surgical team members see patients at the Full Spectrum clinic but are independent practitioners, not employees of the practice.

For complex surgical cases, Dr. Winner works with a dedicated colorectal surgeon and urologist rather than relying on whoever is on call for a larger group. These relationships were established when Dr. Winner moved to Seattle and have been maintained through the transition to the private practice. A specialized endometriosis protocol MRI, using thinner imaging cuts through the rectovaginal septum (the tissue between the rectum and vagina, a common site of deep endo), is used for pre-surgical planning and is available through a private radiology group in Seattle as well as through the University of Washington.

Diagnosis Methods

Symptom-Based Assessment; Normal Imaging Does Not Rule Out Disease

Dr. Winner has stated publicly and repeatedly that a normal ultrasound or MRI does not rule out endometriosis. In a Facebook post, she cited a statistic that 70% of patients with endometriosis have no evidence of it on imaging, including on specialized endometriosis protocol MRIs for superficial stage I-II disease. The stated position is that diagnosis is symptom-based, and that patients with severe menstrual pain disrupting daily life, pain with intercourse, pain with bowel movements, or unexplained infertility should see a specialist regardless of what imaging shows. The endometriosis protocol MRI is used to assess for deeper infiltrating disease and to plan surgery, not to rule disease in or out at the outset.

No public information has been found on the specific intake process for a new patient who has never had surgery, including what the initial consultation covers or what pre-surgical steps are required before scheduling.

Educational Presence

Active Patient-Facing Voice on Social Media and Podcasts; No Endo-Specific Research Publications

Dr. Winner maintains an active personal Instagram account (@dr.brookewinner) and a clinic account (@fullspectrumgyn), both focused on endometriosis education, symptom recognition, and surgical awareness. Posts cover topics including the unreliability of imaging for endo diagnosis, the difference between excision and ablation, and the role of the multidisciplinary team. The content is created and run by Dr. Winner personally, not produced by a hospital or institution.

Podcast appearances include a full episode on The Egg Whisperer Show covering ablation versus excision, MIGS fellowship training, the multidisciplinary care model, adenomyosis and hysterectomy philosophy, and practice philosophy. Dr. Winner is also featured on the iCareBetter platform (Roon) with a Q&A video series covering endometriosis topics. A video produced by iCareBetter titled "What is a Multidisciplinary Endometriosis Center?" features an extended interview on the Full Spectrum model. An additional clinic-produced YouTube video covers endometriosis education.

Dr. Winner presented three abstracts at the AAGL 43rd Global Congress in 2014 and received the Kurt Semm Award for Best Abstract in the Category of Laparoscopic Surgeries at that conference. The abstracts addressed surgical training and residency education in minimally invasive gynecology, not endometriosis specifically. No endo-focused original research publications have been found in any public database. The practice bio lists publications in The New England Journal of Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and the Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology; all confirmed publications are related to morcellation (a surgical technique for removing tissue) and contraception, not endometriosis. Professional memberships include AAGL and ACOG.

Post-Surgical Care

Multidisciplinary Aftercare Model; Some Gaps in Publicly Available Detail

A stated motivation for founding Full Spectrum was the gap in long-term follow-up care for endometriosis patients after surgery. Dr. Winner has described hearing from patients that their surgeons wanted to perform the operation but had no structure in place for what came after. The clinic was built in part to address this. Post-surgical care for persistent symptoms is described as multidisciplinary, including pelvic floor physical therapy for muscle spasming that can outlast surgical correction, acupuncture, vaginal suppositories, nutrition support, and mental health counseling as applicable. Dr. Winner has noted that pelvic floor PT is sometimes more effective after surgery than before, because the underlying cause of irritation has been removed and the muscles can actually begin to release.

On hormonal management post-surgery, the stated approach is individualized. Lupron and Orilissa are typically avoided due to side effects, though Dr. Winner has stated they may be appropriate for some patients. Hormonal therapy decisions are described as a shared process. No public information has been found on standard follow-up timing, how long patients are personally seen after surgery, or the specific post-operative protocol.

Philosophy and Fit

Excision as Standard, Embryologic Origin Theory, and Shared Decision-Making

Dr. Winner favors the embryologic origin theory of endometriosis, which holds that the cells are present from birth in the wrong location, explaining why many patients report that their periods have been painful since they first began. The surgical philosophy follows from this: if disease is present from the start and can be removed completely, the goal is to get it all out. The stated approach is complete excision of all visible endometriosis, including in technically difficult locations. Dr. Winner has noted publicly that even skilled excision surgeons see recurrence, and that this may reflect cells that were present but not yet mature at the time of surgery rather than surgical failure alone.

On hysterectomy (surgical removal of the uterus), the stated position is that it is not a default recommendation but is appropriate in some cases, particularly when adenomyosis is present or when inflammation from endometriosis is causing the uterus or cervix to be tender on exam. Dr. Winner has cited data suggesting that patients who had a hysterectomy as part of high-quality excision surgery were significantly less likely to require a subsequent operation. For patients who want to preserve fertility, the stated approach is to pursue fertility-sparing surgery regardless of disease complexity.

The practice philosophy frames surgery as step one in a longer process rather than a standalone fix, and the clinic model is built around that position. Decision-making is described as shared, with patients given time to understand their options before proceeding.