Although no cure exists, one should not despair of an endometriosis treatment. In fact, there are several treatment options available to sufferers of this malady. These treatments run the gamut from simple observation to surgery.
If the case is particularly mild, one endometriosis treatment involves nothing more than simply engaging in regular visits to the physician. The doctor—either a general practitioner or a gynecologist—will monitor the patient. If the pain the patient is experiencing is severe enough certain medications may be prescribed, such as ibuprofen. As the symptoms progress further—and in some cases there may be no furthering of symptoms at all—it may become necessary to discuss the possibility of more complex treatments.
One of these endometriosis treatments that go beyond mere observation is hormone treatment. Hormone therapy is utilized because it has been effective in managing certain symptoms. The hormone estrogen thickens the uterine lining, while the hormone progesterone prompts the shedding of the uterine lining during menstruation.
One treatment involves Danazol, which is a form of testosterone that works to lessen the estrogen amounts that the ovaries produce down to roughly the same level that takes place during menopause. Minus the higher amount of estrogen, the endometrial cells shrink and, eventually, disappear during the hormone treatment. Unfortunately, Danazol comes with a host of side effects: mood swings, facial and body hair growth, increases in muscle size and the clitoris, a reduction in breast size, weight gain, bloating. In some cases it can even cause more severe problems such as depression and liver disease.
A synthetic hormone known as Gestrinone can also be used in treatment, as can Dydrogesterone, which is a synthetic version of progesterone. Side effects of these hormones are similar to that of Danazol.
Another method of hormone treatment is that old standby, the contraceptive pill. The oral contraceptive is often prescribed for women who are suffering mild case of endometriosis in order to stop it from progressing further. Sometimes it used by woman who have had surgery in order to stop it from recurring.
When it comes to surgery as an endometriosis treatment, there are basically two choices. The first is something called an operative laparoscopy. In this procedure a tube gets inserted into the abdomen and the endometrial implants are removed. A more drastic surgical treatment is a hysterectomy, in which the uterus as actually removed along with the endometrial implants. Sometimes the fallopian tubes and ovaries are also removed. A hysterectomy isn’t always successful in stopping the endometriosis, however.
No endometriosis treatment should be considered a cure. While many women do benefit to varying degrees from one or all of these treatments, none by itself or in combination with another can be considered a route to complete freedom from endometriosis. One rumor you may hear is that endometriosis can be cured by becoming pregnant. While it’s true that some women improve after pregnancy, it’s also true that other women suffer a worsening of the disease. Pregnancy should not be considered an endometriosis treatment!
