Endometriosis is an extremely painful disorder. It impacts the lives of over 6.5 million women in the United States. While it’s a fairly common disorder, there is no cure. However, places like ovarian rejuvenation Cary can offer treatments or surgeries that can help.
What is Endometriosis?
Endometriosis is a disorder in which uterine tissues that usually grow inside the uterus, grow on the outside. The tissues can grow on fallopian tubes, uterus, ovaries, and other tissues that are in your pelvic region. Uterine tissues act the same, whether they’re inside the uterus or not. It gets thicker around the menstrual cycle, breaks down, and bleeds. However, the blood gets trapped within the body. The organs that the tissues grow on can become irritated and develop scars. Symptoms of endometriosis are:
- Painful periods
- Pain during or after sex
- Pain with bowel movements or urination
- Excessive bleeding during or between periods
- Infertility
- Fatigue, diarrhea, constipation, bloating, or nausea
What are the treatments of endometriosis?
There are a few different treatments for endometriosis, most involving medication or surgery. Most doctors choose to start off with medications at first, then move on to more invasive procedures if those fail. You can also talk with your local ovarian rejuvenation Cary provider to discuss treatment options that are best for your and your current situation.
You could start off with pain medication, such as ibuprofen or Aleve to ease the pain. If you aren’t trying to get pregnant, they might recommend hormone therapy. Supplemental hormones can help in reducing pain. Hormone changes during your menstrual cycle can cause the tissues to become inflamed and break down. However, hormone treatments are not a permanent fix to endometriosis. Some methods of treatment are:
- Hormonal contraceptives such as birth control pills, patches, vaginal rings, or shots.
- Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists and antagonists. These block the production of ovary-stimulating hormones and cause the endometrial tissue to shrink.
- Progestin therapy, including intrauterine devices that stop periods and the growth of endometrial tissue.
- Aromatase inhibitors can reduce the amount of estrogen in your body. These can be used along with a progestin or combination hormonal contraceptive.
You can also go the surgery route. This is an option in case the medication doesn’t work or you’re trying to get pregnant. The surgery involves removing endometriosis to preserve your reproductive organs. The downside of this surgery is that it could be temporary; the tissues and growths could grow back. In severe cases, your ovarian rejuvenation Cary provider will suggest laparoscopic surgery. During this surgery, your surgeon will insert a slender viewing instrument in a small incision and use tools to remove the tissue through another insert. Your doctor might also prescribe other medications to help with the pain.
