Treatment choices are based on several factors, including age and patient preference, reproductive plans, pain intensity, and the severity of the disease. It may include medication, hormone therapy, and in some instances, surgery.
Once diagnosed with endometriosis, your doctor will discuss the best treatment plan with you. Find out more about the Intercare Women’s Health services.
What treatment options are available?
Depending on the type of endometriosis, treatment may include:
Pain medication
A doctor may recommend that you take an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to help ease painful menstrual cramps.
Hormone therapy
Supplemental hormones are sometimes effective in reducing or eliminating the pain of endometriosis. The rise and fall of hormones during the menstrual cycle causes endometrial implants to thicken, break down and bleed. Hormone medication may slow endometrial tissue growth and prevent new endometrial tissue implants.
Conservative surgery
If you have endometriosis and are trying to become pregnant, surgery to remove the endometriosis implants while preserving your uterus and ovaries (conservative surgery) may increase your chances of success. If you have severe pain from endometriosis, you may benefit from surgery — however, endometriosis and pain may return.
Fertility treatment
Endometriosis could result in trouble conceiving. If you’re having difficulty falling pregnant, your doctor may recommend fertility treatment supervised by a fertility specialist. Fertility treatment ranges from stimulating your ovaries to make more eggs to in vitro fertilization.
Sources
- https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/endometriosis
- https://www.brighamandwomens.org/obgyn/infertility-reproductive-surgery/endometriosis/endometriosis-and-fertility
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
- https://www.healthline.com/health/womens-health/endometriosis-pain-relief
- https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/endometriosis
