Endometriosis Treatment

Endometriosis is a condition in which the type of tissue that forms the lining of the uterus (the endometrium) is found outside the uterus. It is a painful chronic disease that is estimated to affect 10% of women of all ages and backgrounds during their reproductive years.

While some women do not show any indications of the disease, many experience the following symptoms:

• Nausea
• Difficulty conceiving
• Discomfort during intercourse
• Heavy menstrual bleeding (menorrhagia)
• Severe cramps and pelvic pain (dysmenorrhea)
• Lower abdomen pain/painful bowel movements
• Vaginal Bleeding between periods (menometrorrhagia)

At Women’s Health Connecticut, your ObGyn can help determine if you have endometriosis and develop a plan for treatment that’s best for you. After reviewing your medical history and completing any necessary testing, your physician will counsel you on next steps and may provide additional referral sources. Your endometriosis treatment will depend on the severity of the disease and may include medication, hormone therapy, surgery, or a combination of all three. Your first step in seeking treatment is to talk to your doctor if you are experiencing symptoms. Women’s Health Connecticut offers a range of providers from across the state that can provide convenient and compassionate care.

Pain medication is a common therapy used to manage this condition that includes a broad spectrum of options that will be tailored specifically to address your pain level. Nonprescription pain relievers most commonly include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Additional treatment for stronger pain may be prescribed, including products that can treat neuropathic pain related to endometriosis.

Endometriosis pain is also treated with hormones that effectively suppress ovulation or block the release of the estrogen which feeds endometriosis. These include short or long-term hormonal contraceptive options such as birth control, progesterone and progestin (injection or IUD) or gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonists (GnRH). Selection is based on a detailed discussion with your doctor on your symptoms, if you intend on trying to get pregnant, and the severity of your endometriosis. 

With severe endometriosis, surgery offers an option to remove or destroy endometriomas (noncancerous cyst or tumor with shreds of endometrial tissue), relieve pain, and may increase the chances of pregnancy. This option will provide short-term pain relief and may need to be revisited. Women’s Health Connecticut has many providers that specialize in laparoscopic surgery for endometriosis and minimally invasive gynecologic surgery.