I have endometriosis. I am about to have surgery. What is the percentage that I could redevelop endometrioses?

Answer 1

Depends on the method of surgery. If it is laser ablation, fulguration, vaporization, cauterization or other similar superficial method - which is probably is, as most gyn surgeons use those methods - than it is with nearly 100% certainty that it will return. Return is probably not the best choice of word, actually, since what really occurs is that the disease is left behind and not removed...so it doesn't return, it just continues to thrive and cause symptoms. It is imperative that Endo be *excised* (see www.centerforendo.com for info on excision) from ALL locations to ensure your best chance for long-term relief success. Studies show that excision is the most superior method of disease removal and when performed by a true Endo specialist, rates of recurrence over a 5 yr. period are less than 5%. If your doc is going to pull one of those "I got what I could, but couldn't treat some because it was 'too dangerous to remove,' so here's some Lupron/oral contraceptives/danazol/depo Provera" then you might as well not have surgery at all. Please check out www.centerforendo.com before moving forward to make sure that you can make an educated decision about your care. Good luck.

Answer 2

I had it for about 10 years. I had to have it removed at least 3 times as it "grows back". There has been very little studied about Endometriosis since I developed it 25 years ago. If it was a "male" disease it would have been studied further in my opinion. There is a support group you can find loads of info online. As usual, as women we had to do our own research!

Answer 3

It may come back...it has for me several times. After surgery, it is important to stay on hormone treatments such as birth control pills. This can become a chronic problem and often times it is difficult to id and or remove the lesions permanently. I have heard that after pregnancy, there is some improvement. Best of luck.

Here are some sources to check out for additional info...
http://www.pelvicpain.com/askdoctor_QA.html#endogen
http://www.treatendo.com/endobasics.htm
http://www.endometriosis.org/
http://www.endometriosisassn.org/

Answer 4

It returns in about 1 in 5 women.

Recurrent Endometriosis: Surgical Management
Whether endometriosis will come back (recur) after surgery depends on how severe the disease was at the time of surgery and how completely the surgery removed your lesions. Lesions that appear after surgery may be new or pre-existing. For this reason, it may be difficult for your doctor to tell whether your disease has come back or is progressing. Many studies also report patient symptoms as a sign of new disease.

The most recent studies have shown that endometriosis recurs at a rate of 20 to 40 percent within five years following surgery. Pregnancy does not delay the onset of symptoms. In women with advanced endometriosis, one study demonstrated a higher pregnancy rate with in vitro fertilization (IVF-ET) rather than another surgical procedure. Surgery may also be considered to relieve pain.

Surgical removal of the uterus (hysterectomy) with or without removal of the ovaries (bilateral oophorectomy) is often used to treat endometriosis associated with pelvic pain or nearby masses. A recent follow-up study investigated the recurrence of symptoms after hysterectomy with or without removal of the ovaries. In women who kept their ovaries, 62 percent had recurrent symptoms and 31 percent required further surgery. In women who had their ovaries removed, 10 percent had recurrent symptoms and 3.7 percent required further surgery.

Most of the women who had their ovaries removed had been on estrogen replacement therapy. In these women, there is a significant recurrence of symptoms even after the ovaries are removed. In a prospective study, it was demonstrated that many women that have recurrent symptoms after hysterectomy and removal of the ovaries have persistent disease. Endometriosis can be found whether or not the patient is on estrogen replacement therapy. A large number of these women had endometriosis that involved the bowel.

In women who request treatment as a final option for their symptoms, it is generally recommended that both ovaries and all visible endometriosis be removed. No adverse effects of estrogen therapy on endometriosis has been reported in many studies. Furthermore, two recent studies have shown no advantage in delaying the onset of estrogen replacement therapy.

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Answer 5

You really need to read "Endometriosis Bible & Violet Protocol" by Zoe Brown (also available in electronic format here: http://www.endometriosisbible.info ). It's about how to eradicate endometriosis disease forever. It worked for me, you will see results in only a matter of weeks. Good Luck!

Answer 6

I had the surgery when I was 18. Im 41 now and no re-occurance so far. Good luck on your surgery