Treatments
There is no known cure for endometriosis. But, there are treatments which can help relieve your symptoms and improve your quality of life.
The trick is to find the right solution for you! This means talking with your doctor about your symptoms, how they affect your daily life, and discussing whether you want to have children now or in the future.
→ First consultation (take time to ponder and fill this in before your first consultation)
→ Talking with your doctor
Hormonal treatments
Whereas the cause of endometriosis remains unknown, we do know that the disease is exacerbated by oestrogen. Therefore, hormonal treatments for endometriosis are designed to attempt to temper oestrogen production in a woman’s body. Hormonal therapy is used to suppress the menstrual period to prevent the monthly bleeding.
There are several types of medications that act by shrinking the lining of the uterus and the endometriotic lesions:
Hormonal therapies have varying degrees of side effects and, unfortunately, whatever pain relief that is achieved may, for many, be only temporary.
→ Tips for dealing with side effects associated with drug treatments
Surgery
Laparoscopic surgery is the only definitive way to diagnose endometriosis, and in most cases the disease can be diagnosed and treated in the same procedure.
Laparotomy is seldom used in endometriosis these days.
The success of surgery is, however, surgeon dependent, so do try to find someone who is experienced in the surgical removal of endometriosis.
