Treatment to stop the endometriosis from getting worse often involves using birth control pills continously for 6 - 9 months to stop you from having periods and create a pregnancy-like state. This is called pseudopregnancy. This therapy uses estrogen and progesterone birth control pills. It relieves most endometriosis symptoms. However, it does not prevent scarring or reverse physical changes that have already occured as the result of the endometriosis.
Other hormonal treatments may include:
• Progesterone pills or injections. However, side effects can be bothersome and include weight gain and depression.
• Gonadotropin-agonist medications such as nafarelin acetate (Synarel) and Depo Lupron to stop the ovaries from producing estrogen and produce a menopause-like state. Side effects include hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and mood changes. Treatment is usually limited to 6 months because it can lead to bone density loss. It may be extended up to 1 year in some cases.
Surgery may be recommended if you have severe pain that does not get better with other treatments. Surgery may include:
• Pelvic laparoscopy or laparotomy to diagnose endometriosis and remove all endometrial implants and scar tissue (adhesions).
• Hysterectomy to remove the womb (uterus) if you have severe symptoms and do not want to have children in the future. One or both ovaries and fallopian tubes may also be removed. If you do not have both of ovaries removed at the time of hysterectomy, your symptoms may return.
If your provider has jumped from HBC to full hysterectomy without suggesting lapraotomy, if you have not expressed a desire to never bear children, I would want a second opinion. (I'm reading between the lines here, that you desire to have children or have more children?)
(You may also want to consider if your situation is such that you would wish to try to become pregnant in the near future; pregnancy, if feasible in your current circumstances, would be likely to stop the progression for the duration of the pregnancy, at least.)
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Date: 2011-12-31 02:31 am (UTC)If your provider has jumped from HBC to full hysterectomy without suggesting lapraotomy, if you have not expressed a desire to never bear children, I would want a second opinion. (I'm reading between the lines here, that you desire to have children or have more children?)
(You may also want to consider if your situation is such that you would wish to try to become pregnant in the near future; pregnancy, if feasible in your current circumstances, would be likely to stop the progression for the duration of the pregnancy, at least.)
http://www.ngc.gov/content.aspx?id=11380 is another, rather technical, site about various things to try and how well they might work.
*offers hugs*