However, symptoms can be managed with medication.
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What Is the Goal of Endometriosis Medication?
The goal of endometriosis medication is to stop or minimize symptoms so they don’t interfere with daily life.
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Antibiotics have also shown some promise in recent studies.
Your body can build a tolerance to the drugs, which can lead to taking higher doses over time.
This can increase your risk of addiction.
It’s advised to take opioids sparingly when managing pain.
GnRH pills are normally taken for six months at a time, with breaks of several months in between.
Progestin injections might not stop all period bleeding, and irregular periods can occur.
Danazol
Danazol usually is taken as a capsule twice daily.
When the antibiotic metronidazole was used by itself, the endo lesions became much smaller.
This raised the possibility of a connection betweengut bacteriaand endometriosis.
Medications for Secondary Endo Conditions
Secondary endo conditions can also be managed with medication.
Before trying alternative therapies, speak to a healthcare professional or pharmacist about potential drug interactions.
Endometriosis has no cure.
The goal of treatment is to manage symptoms so they don’t interfere with daily life.
Speak to your pharmacist for more information.
The surgeon can then remove endometriosis patches (which can require more small cuts).
Fertility can improve after a laparotomy.
Hysterectomy
A hysterectomy is a complete removal of the uterus.
Endometriosis symptoms can return if a hysterectomy doesn’t include removing the ovaries, where hormones are produced.
However, removing ovaries can mean startingmenopauseearly.
Treating menopause symptoms can require taking estrogen, which can cause endometriosis symptoms to return.
Most women who undergo a hysterectomy choose to keep their ovaries.
About 5% of those who undergo a hysterectomy can experience complications like organ damage or infection.
Summary
Endometriosis has no cure, but its symptoms can be managed with medication.
These symptoms include heavy bleeding, intense or long-term pain, bloating, nausea, depression, and anxiety.
Surgery to remove lesions or the uterus itself might be preferred if medications don’t heal endometriosis symptoms.
Surgery does not guarantee endometriosis symptoms will disappear.
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