What are the Different Kinds of Endometriosis Treatments?

Some different kinds of endometriosis treatments include anti-inflammatory medicine, hormone treatment, and, in some cases, surgery. Unlike many other conditions, Endometriosis treatments usually focus on reducing the symptoms to a level that is comfortable rather than trying to solve the health condition altogether. There are also alternative treatments for endometriosis, including yoga, although the medical benefits of these are yet to be proven.

For mild symptoms of endometriosis, pain-relief medicine may be used. To begin with, a doctor may recommend non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen. The condition often causes inflammation, so these drugs can be effective at reducing symptoms. Doctors also sometimes prescribe pain killing drugs that lack anti-inflammatory properties.

Hormone therapy can be one of the most effective endometriosis treatments, as the condition is made worse by the hormone estrogen. For this reason, hormone treatment often focuses on reducing the amount of this hormone in the body. Examples of hormone therapies include danazol and aromatase inhibitors.

One issue with hormone endometriosis treatments is that they can cause unwanted side effects. Relief from the treatment can often only be temporary, and the symptoms may return. Hormone therapy for endometriosis won't help with infertility problems either.

In some cases, surgery for endometriosis symptoms may be the most effective way of reducing symptoms. Scar tissue caused by the condition can often be removed, which will reduce the symptoms significantly. Unfortunately, there are a number of potential side effects of surgery, including the risk of infection.

Keyhole surgery is one of the most common types of operation used for endometriosis. It is the least invasive way of removing the tissue. In some cases, keyhole surgery is used as a diagnostic tool, as it allows the surgeon to see inside the body. A problem with this type of surgery is that if any part of the tissue is missed during the surgical procedure, symptoms may reoccur at a later date.

Major surgery is sometimes required, although other endometriosis treatments are often tried first. For large amounts of endometriosis tissue, an incision to open up the area and remove the tissue is used. In some cases, a hysterectomy may be required, although this is usually only considered when other treatments have failed. There is, however, never any guarantee that symptoms won’t return with any type of operation.

Some women have had apparent success with alternative or holistic therapies to treat this condition. A knowledgeable, qualified practitioner may be able to provide recommendations.