Endometriosis treatment is a subject which has many theories based on a lot of trial and error. The reason there is absolutely no clear cut treatment is that nobody really knows what can cause this disease. Most treatments are used to help control the disease and mitigate the symptoms it causes.
The symptoms of endometriosis affect the ladies who suffer them in different ways. Most women notice a rise in symptoms as their menstrual period approaches and begins. In rarer cases the symptoms persist throughout the month. The discomfort and pain is normally localized in the pelvic, abdominal or spine regions. The severity of the pain caused varies from woman to woman. Endometriosis may also cause heavy menstruation and in severe cases infertility.
The initial step to endometriosis treatment is getting properly diagnosed. Women who experience endometriosis symptoms should see their gynecologist. Occasionally an ultrasound or MRI can detect the small endometrial growths but a definitive diagnosis can only just be produced through laparoscopic surgery. signs of endometriosis is a minimal invasive procedure when a thin tube with a light and camera on the end is inserted into the abdomen. This gives the doctor a real time view of any endometrial lesions, their size and extant of these growth. Once a positive diagnosis is made treatment plans may then be discussed and considered.
Endometriosis Treatment – Options for Treating Endometriosis
When an endometriosis treatment plan is being discussed there are lots of points that need to be looked at by the girl and her doctor.
? How severe are the symptoms
? What type of symptoms is she having
? How old is she
? Is she looking to get pregnant
? How long if the treatment last
? What side effects will medications have
? How much will it cost
Once these questions are answered a treatment plan for endometriosis can be made.
Understanding what causes endometrial cells living beyond your uterus to grow is important in knowing why certain treatments are better than others. Endometriosis is really a disease driven by way of a woman’s hormonal cycle and specifically estrogen. As a woman’s estrogen levels increase through the month endometrial tissue in the uterus thickens with blood and nutrient rich tissue as it prepares for a fertilized egg. Any endometrial tissue beyond your uterus in the abdomen responds in the same fashion.
Hormone endometriosis treatment functions by limiting or controlling the quantity of estrogen produced by a woman’s body. Lowering the estrogen level limits the amount of growth the endometrial cells can undergo thereby limiting the inflammation and irritation they cause.
The hormone control drugs used in the treatment of endometriosis include:
? Birth control pills
? Gestrinone
? Danazol
? GnRH agonists
? Progesterone hormone tablets
Using hormone drugs being an endometriosis treatment is normally prescribed for women who’ve milder cases of the disease. Hormonal treatments suppress the power of the endometrial cells to thicken with blood thereby helping to relieve the symptoms. By reducing the amount of estrogen the drugs “starve” the endometrial tissue causing them to shrink and be inactive.
Drug treatment only works during the time the woman is taking the medication. It isn’t a cure but a way of managing the endometriosis. If and when the medications stops the endometriosis can be active again over a period of 12 to 24 months.
Women with more severe types of endometriosis normally need to consider the surgical option of endometriosis treatment. Whenever there are endometrial lesions over 3cm in diameter and/or numerous adhesions the probability of those responding to drug treatment are minimal.
The most common type of surgical endometriosis treatment is laparoscopy. Also called keyhole surgery, laparoscopy is really a minimally invasive surgical procedure when a small quarter inch incision is made just underneath the belly button. The laparoscopic instrument, which has a small light and camera attached, is then inserted in to the abdomen and the surgeon can look for and destroy any endometrial tissue they find.
Endometrial lesions are destroyed utilizing a procedure known as diathermy. A power current is passed down a fine probe attached to the laparoscopic instrument and is used the burn the lesion off the encompassing tissue. Sometimes lasers may also be used to exactly the same effect. Other surgical instruments such as small scissors and scalpels can also be used the take away the endometrial tissue. This kind of surgery includes a 70% success rate in improving the pain causing symptoms of endometriosis.
A Laparotomy is a surgical endometriosis treatment that’s used once the endometrial lesions and adhesions are larger and more widespread. It needs the surgeon to open the abdominal cavity for better usage of the affected areas. This kind of surgery carries greater risks then a laparoscopic procedure as it is an operation that is much more serious and involved.
The final surgical option for women with endometriosis is hysterectomy and oophorectomy. This can be the surgical removal of the uterus and ovaries. This is the radical endometriosis treatment option because this sort of surgery will cause a woman to go into early menopause. The ovaries must be removed because they are responsible for making a lot of the estrogen found in a woman’s body and estrogen is the primary hormone responsible for endometrial flare ups.
Any surgical procedure posesses certain amount of risk and should be discussed thoroughly with the woman’s physician.
Endometriosis Treatment – Conclusion
Any woman undergoing endometriosis treatment must understand that this disease still has no identifiable cause nor will there be a clear cut cure. That is why there exists a chance that symptoms will re-occur following a particular treatment regimen is discontinued. Discussing every treatment possibilities with the girl gynecologist is the best way to understanding the what, how and just why of endometriosis treatment.