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Treatment Options
Endometriosis
How is it treated?
The severity of the disease, the woman's history of infertility, the intensity of her desire for pregnancy, and her age all play a role in determining what type of treatment is chosen. A complete hysterectomy (surgical removal of the uterus) is the treatment of choice in women who are past their reproductive age. Other surgeries, such as a laparoscopy (minor abdominal surgery) or laparotomy (major abdominal surgery), and fertility drugs, such as clomiphene, are used to restore fertility in women wishing to become pregnant. The goals of surgery are to relieve symptoms, restore fertility, remove endometrial lesions if possible, and to delay recurrence of the disease.
Hormone treatment is popular as an alternative to surgery; however, hormones are not proven to be effective in treating endometriosis but may help to prevent further growth of endometriosis. Many women have found symptom relief from combination therapy with estrogen and progesterone. Other medications available include danazol or gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists. Doctors sometimes prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents, such as ibuprofen, to relieve pain associated with contraction of the uterus during menstruation.
Drug classes used to treat Endometriosis Androgens Estrogens Progestins
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Last Updated: March 2008
This content was created by members of the DrugDigest team of experts and is solely under DrugDigest's editorial control.
Note: The above information is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of your physician, pharmacist, or other healthcare professional. It is not intended to diagnose a health condition, but it can be used as a guide to help you decide if you should seek professional treatment or to help you learn more about your condition once it has been diagnosed.
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How is it treated?
