Endometriosis_ 4 Common Treatment Methods
Endometriosis is a chronic condition that alters the way the endometrium, or the uterine lining, develops inside of the body. This disorder is characterized by endometrial growth outside of the uterus, which results in pain, scar tissue, pelvic dysfunction and other difficult symptoms that often negatively affect your quality of life.
While there is currently no cure for endometriosis, several treatment options are available to ease the symptoms of the condition. Read on to discover some of the most prominent methods to treat this painful disorder.
- Pain Medication
The most prominent symptom of endometriosis, and the one that commonly prompts those who suffer from it to seek medical attention, is pelvic pain. This pain may increase with menstrual periods, but it may also be present in varying degrees at other times during your cycle. Those who live with endometriosis often describe the pain as far worse than typical menstrual cramps, and this pain frequently worsens over time.
Many medical providers recommend pain medication in order to relieve the often intense irritation, tenderness and discomfort. Some patients with endometriosis find relief from milder symptoms through over-the-counter pain relief options, including both nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and organic options such as gummy edibles derived from cannabis. However, in more severe cases, strong prescription pain medication is prescribed for pain relief.
- Hormone Therapy
Endometriosis is known to follow the female body’s hormone cycle, so many healthcare providers look to hormone therapy to relieve the symptoms of the disorder and better regulate the body’s hormonal activity. These treatments can stop or slow the growth of the endometrium by inhibiting some of the hormones responsible for ovulation and other phases of the menstrual cycle.
Some of the most common forms of hormone therapy are found in contraceptives. Oral birth control pills, injections, intrauterine devices and implants can make menstrual cycles lighter or disappear entirely, which can stop or reduce many of the symptoms that flare up during certain times of the month.
Other hormonal treatments include gonadotropin-releasing hormones to prevent ovulation and the growth of the uterine lining, as well as hormones that can stop menstruation entirely and put the patient’s body in a menopause-like state. These therapy options can cause unpleasant side effects, but these are often more desirable when compared to some of the symptoms of severe endometriosis.
- Surgery
Several surgical treatment options are available to those who live with endometriosis, from relatively simple outpatient procedures to more intensive solutions. Surgical options can provide relief from symptoms by removal of lesions or careful incisions to stop or dull pain responses that can interfere with the patient’s wellbeing.
One such procedure is a laparoscopy. This surgical method involves the use of a small instrument to enter the abdomen and excise endometrial lesions without harming the surrounding healthy uterine tissue. With a laparoscopy, patients experience often significant pain relief, but it may return with the development of new lesions over time.
When lesions are considerable, your healthcare provider may suggest more invasive procedures such as a laparotomy in which endometrial patches are removed through larger incisions, pelvic nerve surgery to sever nerves connected to the uterus or even full hysterectomy procedures that remove the uterus, fallopian tubes or ovaries. These surgical treatments are always prescribed as a last resort for endometriosis.
- Infertility Treatment
Many patients who suffer from endometriosis face infertility issues, as it can be harder for the uterus to support a healthy pregnancy. Fertility treatments are often prescribed to help patients conceive. These treatments are conducted under the supervision of a fertility specialist and can involve anything from medications to increase egg production to in vitro fertilization to implant a fully fertilized embryo into the uterus.
While fertility treatments can help the patient to have a healthy pregnancy, they do not address the causes and symptoms of endometriosis. Other treatment options are necessary before, during and after the pregnancy in order to better manage the symptoms associated with the disease.
