Endometriosis

Reviewed by Dr Philip Owen, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist

How is endometriosis treated?
There is a wide range of treatment available. The treatment recommended by your gynaecologist will be influenced by many things including your age, the severity of your symptoms, the severity of the endometriosis and whether you wish to have children in the future or not.

Symptomatic treatment means treating the symptoms of the disease rather than the disease itself. In endometriosis, this means pain relief which can most effectively be provided by a group of medicines called the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Medical treatment of endometriosis aims to stop the fluctuations in the woman's own hormone levels in an effort to remove the stimulation for growth of the endometriosis. Such treatments include progestogens, danazol, the oral contraceptive pills and a group of drugs called gonadorelin analogues.

In keeping with all hormonal preparations, side effects are common and it is important to be aware of these before commencing any treatment. Be sure to ask your doctor about the possible side effects of any medicine you are prescribed.

Although medical treatment is usually successful in alleviating symptoms, relapses may occur after treatment has stopped. Surgical treatment is then often appropriate and can include keyhole surgery (laparoscopic surgery) to remove or destroy endometriosis or open surgery to remove ovarian cysts.

A hysterectomy may be suggested if the main symptoms are heavy and painful periods and the woman's family is complete.

Living with endometriosis
Endometriosis is a condition that cannot always be cured although the symptoms can usually be sufficiently relieved to allow the woman to pursue a normal life. Symptoms will go away at the time of the menopause.

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