Treatment of Endometriosis
First you should know that there is no cure for endometriosis. Medications can be prescribed to help control pain and may lessen the effects or progression of the disease. Surgery can treat the disease. But at this point, there is no definitive cure.
Medications
- For mild symptoms, over-the-counter pain medication may be prescribed
- Prescription pain relievers may be prescribed for more severe cases
- Hormonal therapy
- Oral contraceptives
- Progesterone
- Danocrine (a testosterone derivative)
- Gonadatropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists
- Others
Surgery
Laparoscopic surgery is now considered the gold-standard of care for the surgical treatment of endometriosis. Even extensive disease involving the intestines, urinary bladder, and even as far as the diaphragm can be treated with laparoscopy. Laparoscopic treatment of endometriosis is associated with the ability to visualize even small endometriotic implants when compared to open surgery and "naked eye" vision. This is coupled with the obvious benefits of a short hospital stay and fast recovery.
Most women can see relief or improvement of their pain symptoms following surgery. In addition those women with infertility secondary to endometriosis, have a better chance of getting pregnant following surgery performed by an experienced specialist. For women that have infertility and/or pain, surgical treatment offers the best results and minimizes recurrences over the year following surgery and overall for 5 years after surgery.
Endometriosis from Endometriosis.org on Vimeo.
Interview with Diana Wallis from Endometriosis.org on Vimeo.
Endometrial Polyp
Hysteroscopic Transcervical Resection of the Endometrium (TCRE)
Intra Uterine Adhesions
