What is the treatment for endometriosis?

Answer 1

Being one of the many women who suffer from this disease, I have tried several different treatments. My doctor who diagnosed my endometriosis told me that the only sure fire cures were menopause, pregnancy or a hysterectomy. He did not want to do a hysterectomy because my body needs the natural hormones that the uterus and ovaries produce. And my chances for pregnancy were slim and none because of the scarring caused by the endometriosis. That's when we went to other alternatives.

I took Depo-Lupron injections for 6 months. This creates a drug induced menopause. Treatments do no last for more than 6 months because of the risk of osteoperosis and other such post- menopausal problems increase dramaticly after 6 months. The thought is that if you kill all the endometrium, then the problem is solved. This worked for me for about 10 years after the treatment. Then my symptoms came back.

I then took Depo-Provera injections for 3 years. I didn't have a period for well over a year during this form of treatment and had no symptoms, but this was only after having continuous spotting for the first 11 months. However, I stopped this treatment after my sister was diagnosed with pre-menopausal breast cancer and I learned that hormonal treatments of any kind can increase the risk of developing a disease that can kill you.

After all this, I determined that for me the best way to live with endometriosis is to treat the symptoms only.

The best thing any woman can do is talk with her doctor and determine the best form of treatment for her. Each treatment will have a different effect for her. Some women have horror stories about each form of drug treatment. But become educated about the disease and the different forms of treatment available. But, as I said before, the most important thing a woman can do is TALK TO HER DOCTOR.

Answer 2

I have endo and have had for over 10 years now. There are various treatments you can try to ease the pain and discomfort but there is no actual cure. Doctors tell you that getting pregnant or having a hysterectomy will cure it. Well I've had two kids and that didn't cure it and I've been refused a hysterectomy because of having endometriosis in the first place.

Try herbal remedies or a vitamin course. Physiotherapy is also good. There are books you can buy and a group in London where you can talk about your problems and contact other women, who I found to be very friendly and useful.

Doctors also have certain medication that you can take but they cause side affects so I never took them.

Answer 3

Endometriosis and Natural Progesterone
While the cause of endometriosis is unknown we do know that it is an estrogen driven disease. And the body's natural anti-estrogen is progesterone.

Controlling the Symptoms of Endometriosis with Progesterone
We know that when a woman falls pregnant, often endometriosis will disappear, only to return again after pregnancy. There is some very strong correlation between the two. This suggests that the sex hormones are involved and that high progesterone levels produced in pregnancy play an important part in controlling this disease.

That's why progesterone is recommended from days 8 to 26 (just before menstruation) or whenever your normal menstrual cycle ends, breaking from cream briefly to refresh receptor sites. This mimics a pseudo-pregnancy state, and facilitates healing.

Higher than normal doses are required which appear to be well tolerated. Levels around about 60~80mg/day are usually required for pain management. You know you are taking too high a dose if you begin to feel sleepy after applying cream.

Most women will find that they can reduce their dosage of progesterone after 7-12 months, however, attempts to go below 40mg/day progesterone often allows symptoms to creep back in.

Keep in mind that a delayed diagnosis of endometriosis after numerous years of medication and synthetic hormone cocktails often leads to liver dysfunction, adrenal exhaustion, and chronic pain / fatigue which can compromise the uptake of progesterone.

No one is suggesting progesterone cures endometriosis but we certainly know, based on empirical evidence, that it appears to play a major role in controlling its distressing symptoms. We know that women who stopped progesterone felt great for a few months and then suddenly, after progesterone stores had washed from the body, the disease would flare back up.

Most women with endometriosis remain on progesterone cream for maintenance and pain control, and adjust their dose when necessary, increasing when indicated such as in times of stress.

Catherine Rollins

Need more info?
www.health.groups.yahoo.com/group/LiveAgain
Blessings~
Michelle Jones

Answer 4

There is an excellent chapter in Dr Atkins' Health Revolution on Endometriosis and how the Atkins Institute handles it. They claim to get good results in most of the cases. For additional discussion and info, see Prescription For Natural Cures (Balch & Stengler) and Alternative Cures by Bill Gottlieb. You should find something there that may help.
God bless and good Luck!

Answer 5

i also have endometriosis and like they said there are a few different treatment options. sometime birth control alone can help, i had to be put on lupron depo shots. its like temporary menopause. sometimes surgery can remove the tissue...problem with that is it can cause new ones. best thing to do obviously is talk to you doctor about it. also you can go to this website: www.endoknow.com/101 it's a site that lets you track your symptoms and offers advice from physicians and lets you know how to take your symptoms and come up with a comprehensive way to talk to your doctor and what questions to ask. make sure you ask a lot of questions about treatment(especially if you have an hmo!). good luck, i know it sucks.

Answer 6

I was 30 when I was first diagnosed with endometriosis, after the unbelievable heavy bleeding during the periods. I had my first diagnostic surgery in 1998 and they also removed some of the lesions and the cysts on that occasion. From that point on it was a crazy dance with my life revolving around my disease and the days of my life going by me as if I was just a spectator. I was on Lupron that offered some help but destroyed me financially.

My parents were basically living on the verge of poverty just so that they can help me pay for my Lupron. I had a partial hysterectomy in 2005 and I was a bit better for approximately a year. And after endometriosis and pain returned in 2006, I remember that I just gave up any hope that I will lead a normal life ever again.

I was never able to maintain a healthy relationship and I gave up on that, too. I found out about this eBook (http://tinyurl.com/EndometriosisB ) on the internet and the few clicks changed everything. I could not believe that I have been suffering needlessly for so long. I will not be able to have children because my fallopian tubes and ovaries are removed, but I am just thankful that I am again able to lead a healthy full life...

Answer 7

I don't know what endometriosis means but whew! I found an answer to this question!
Please visit this link.
http://health.yahoo.com/ency/healthwise/hw102998

Answer 8

http://www.endometriosis.org/treatment.html