Table of contents:
- Various endometriosis treatment options
- Pain relievers
- Hormone therapy
- Endometriosis surgery
- Laparoscopic surgery
- Hysterectomy surgery
- Other treatment
- Things that must be considered before undergoing endometriosis treatment
Endometriosis is a health problem in the lower abdomen. This condition experienced by this woman occurs because the tissue in the inside of the uterus, called the endometrium, grows to line the outside of the uterus. Some women do not realize that they have endometriosis, but many also experience pain during menstruation or during sexual intercourse. For those of you who have endometriosis, here are various treatments that you can do.
Various endometriosis treatment options
Source: CBS News
Treatment for endometriosis can be adjusted according to the severity of the condition. However, please note that endometriosis cannot be cured. Therefore, this treatment will only inhibit the growth of tissue outside the jaw and treat the pain caused by endometriosis so as not to interfere with your daily activities.
Pain relievers
If the symptoms of endometriosis are still mild, you can use pain medications. Usually the recommended drug is an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) such as ibuprofen or naproxen.
These pain relievers can be purchased at a pharmacy and do not usually cause serious side effects. You can also use a combination of two types of drugs such as ibuprofen and paracetamol for more severe pain.
If the pain persists, the doctor may prescribe a special, stronger medicine.
Hormone therapy
Endometriosis can occur due to the presence of estrogen which encourages the growth of endometrial tissue in the body. Therefore, treatment with hormone therapy prevents new implants of endometrial tissue by limiting or stopping the production of estrogen in the body.
However, hormone therapy will not increase fertility and most of the time it will actually reduce your chances of getting pregnant while you are using it. Symptoms of endometriosis can still appear again after you stop treatment.
Here are the various types of hormone therapy that you can do:
- Hormonal contraceptives: birth control pills, implants, and rings can help control hormones that cause the buildup of endometrial tissue. During the use of hormonal contraception, menstrual duration is shorter and the volume of blood loss is less. The effect, pain during menstruation is reduced.
- Progestin therapy: similar to hormonal contraceptives, except that this therapy contains only progestins. Some of the types include pills, injections, and IUDs.
- Gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs: Treatment of endometriosis with this type of hormone therapy is recommended if pain relievers and contraceptives do not work. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues will inhibit the ovaries from producing estrogen. As a result, the endometrial tissue will shrink. However, this treatment will have an impact on menopause temporarily so it is not recommended for those of you who are planning a pregnancy program.
- Danazol: danazol serves to stop the release of hormones that cause menstruation. This medicine can also boost your immune system. Unfortunately, danazol is not recommended for pregnant women because it can have harmful effects on the fetus.
Endometriosis surgery
The last way to treat endometriosis is surgery. Surgery is performed by removing or destroying the endometrial tissue. The types of surgery that are often of choice are laparoscopy and hysterectomy.
Laparoscopic surgery
Laparoscopy is the most common procedure in the treatment of endometriosis. This surgery can also be used to diagnose endometriosis. Later, the doctor makes a small incision to insert a small tube into the abdomen which destroys the endometrial tissue with the help of laser or heat. Laparoscopy is performed under general anesthesia.
Hysterectomy surgery
If the case is severe, you may have to undergo hysterectomy surgery or removal of the uterus. This surgery is only recommended if you don't already have plans for having children. Consulting a doctor is also required considering that this operation can also cause various side effects.
The results of the operation are permanent and irreversible. Even so, this surgery cannot completely eliminate endometriosis.
Other treatment
If the endometriosis lasts only a few moments and is not too severe, you may want to try other treatments. Not enough research has been done to look at the effects of alternative medicine to treat endometriosis, but some patients have reportedly managed to reduce pain after undergoing acupuncture.
You can also reduce pain by soaking in warm water. Warm water can help relax the muscles around the pelvis, which will reduce cramping.
Things that must be considered before undergoing endometriosis treatment
As already explained, it's good for you to consider various factors before choosing the right type of endometriosis treatment.
These factors include age, the symptoms you experience, especially if you are undergoing a pregnancy program. Some treatment methods such as surgery certainly require discussion with your doctor.
You will not need more intense treatment if your symptoms of endometriosis are still mild or if you are approaching menopause. This condition can improve on its own. However, you still need to be aware of the symptoms that appear so that they don't cause more serious problems.
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