Endometriosis lasts for many years, but symptoms can be managed with treatment. Until there is a better understanding of endometriosis, only the symptoms can be treated, not the underlying causes.

Treatment of endometriosis depends on each person’s symptoms and goals. The goal may be to feel less pain or to become pregnant. Most people’s symptoms may be mild enough not to seek treatment, but endometriosis should be monitored as it can cause problems down the road.

Medicines

To treat the pain caused by endometriosis, health professionals suggest an NSAID (over-the-counter pain medication). Hormonal medications are also often prescribed as an early alternative. If the first resources are not enough, other drugs that affect hormones may also be prescribed. GnRH antagonists prevent ovulation and can stop some of the endometrial tissue from thickening and shedding. Aromatase inhibitors regulate the body’s production of estrogen and can help relieve some symptoms, but they can have severe side effects and are usually prescribed after other remedies have been explored.

Surgery

In some cases, a doctor may suggest laparoscopic surgery to explore and surgically remove or remove the problem tissue. This can help relieve symptoms and improve fertility. A doctor may perform a laparoscopic removal or ablation. Excision involves cutting out the problem tissue, while ablation burns away the tissue using cauterization or a laser.

There is much debate about which method is best for each stage of endometriosis. A 2017 analysis shows that both methods may have advantages when treating certain symptoms. Surgery relieves symptoms in most people with mild or moderate endometriosis, but it is not always effective, and recurrence (and thus the need for more surgery) is common later in life. Surgery also carries risks that must be weighed against possible benefits.

Hysterectomy

It is the removal of the uterus, the fallopian tubes and, sometimes, the ovaries) can be considered as a last resort of treatment in severe cases for which other methods have not worked. Hysterectomy does not treat endometriosis effectively in all cases, but it does have a lower recurrence rate than other surgeries, especially when the ovaries are removed. The general rules of the European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) stipulate that removal of the ovaries should be considered a “radical” treatment option, since it results in surgical menopause for women who are still of reproductive age. reproductive.

Changes in lifestyle

Some people consider alternative treatments for their symptoms, such as physical exercise, dietary changes, and acupuncture. Unfortunately there is not much research or evidence for the effectiveness of many of these methods. Only one study of 24 people met the criteria to be included in a review of the use of acupuncture for endometriosis pain, revealing an improvement in menstrual pain (especially severe pain). However, more quality research is needed on this.

By Endo Global Group