Treatment for Endometriosis: The Options

While the cause of Endometriosis is still unclear, endometriosis treatment does exist. Here are the common endometriosis treatment options that range between providing patients with pain relief and symptomatic ease up to complete elimination of the disease.

Medication

As Endometriosis can cause immense pain, especially during menstruation, many doctors recommend pain relievers. These can include prescription pain relievers, or in milder cases, over-the-counter pain relief.

Hormonal therapy

In some cases, hormone medication has helped reduce pelvic pain and lower abdomen pain caused by Endometriosis. The behavior of endometrial tissue is affected by hormonal changes, especially during menstruation, which potentially can lead to lesions and scar tissue growth. Hormone therapy has been known to moderate this growth and, as a result, alleviate pain and discomfort.

Surgery

Surgical approach for Endometriosis is yet another means for alleviating acute pain or increasing the chances of pregnancy. Yet it is important to note that surgery does not completely eliminate the possible return of Endometriosis and its associated symptoms. Endometriosis surgery is usually preformed via a laparoscopic approach. In fact, the only surefire way to determine if the patient suffers from Endometriosis is to conduct diagnostic laparoscopy. Diagnostic laparoscopic surgery allows the surgeon to view and diagnose endometriosis lesions, cysts and affected tissue prior to its removal. In most cases, diagnostic laparoscopy is followed by operational laparoscopy, in which endometrial tissue and cysts are removed. Laparoscopic surgery is less invasive and complicated surgical approach than other forms of surgery. The surgical tools used in the laparoscopic approach are varied and may include traditional surgical tools, electrosurgery and laser. The CO₂ laser has been clinically proven to demonstrate high precision and high preservation of healthy tissue during surgery.

Hysterectomy and oophorectomy

Hysterectomy and oophorectomy (removal of the womb and ovaries, respectively), are yet another surgical option – obviously not for women who seek to get pregnant. After hysterectomy and oophorectomy are performed, pregnancy is impossible – therefore, these procedures are relevant for women who consider themselves to be over their fertile phase, hence, not interested in childbirth anymore.