Endometriosis treatment that's right for you
The best treatment for endometriosis depends on your stage in life how severe your symptoms are, and whether you want to
have children. Your doctor at The Christ Hospital Health Network will guide you
to the best choice to manage pain and fertility.
Pain medications
If over-the-counter pain relievers, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), don't provide relief, your doctor may recommend prescription medication (opioids). Neither of these medicines will slow or prevent endometrial lesion growth.
Hormone
therapies
Hormone therapies may ease pain, slow the growth of existing and new endometrial lesions or shrink existing ones. They are often the first prescribed treatment for women not trying to get pregnant.
Hormone treatments may stop hormone production, may lighten or stop periods, and may prevent ovulation. Hormones often prescribed include:
Oral contraceptives containing estrogen and progestin
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists taken by injection or nasal spray
Progesterone and progestin taken orally, by injection or via intrauterine device (IUD)
Endometriosis symptoms will return when treatments are stopped.
Surgery
Surgery is often the last treatment your doctor will recommend, especially during your reproductive years. Pain and other symptoms will be relieved, but may return.
Laparoscopy is
performed to remove lesions without harming healthy surrounding tissue. It is
one of the minimally invasive surgeries offered at The Christ Hospital Women’s Surgery Center
Major abdominal surgery (laparotomy) is performed as a last-resort. In addition to lesions, your surgeon may remove the uterus (hysterectomy) or the uterus, ovaries and fallopian tubes (total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophrectomy.)
Think you might have
endometriosis? Make an appointment with one of our Women’s Health experts.