Endometriosis Treatment (Comprehensive Guide)
Some women may suffer from severe pain in the pelvic area and lower abdomen, and when consulting a doctor and conducting the necessary examinations; One of the cases known to women may be “endometriosis”, which is a painful disease that affects women due to the growth of the endometrium (a tissue that covers the uterus) around other organs in the body, such as the intestines, ovaries, etc., and those who suffer from this disease will feel pain severe, especially during menstruation. In this article, we will show you how to treat endometriosis.
Treatment of endometriosis with analgesic drugs
The doctor may recommend taking over-the-counter pain-relieving medications such as the well-known non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), but care must be taken and not to overdose them, as they have serious side effects such as infections and ulcers of the stomach and intestines. Discuss with your doctor the side effects of them. .
Hormone therapy may be prescribed along with pain relievers if you are not planning to become pregnant.
hormonal therapy
Sometimes, it turns out to be effective hormonal therapy To relieve the pain associated with endometriosis, which slows the growth of new endometrial tissue, as the rise and fall of hormone levels during the menstrual cycle leads to an increase in the thickness of the endometrium, and then its cracking and bleeding. However, hormonal therapy is not a permanent cure; Pain may return after stopping treatment. Examples of hormonal treatments offered include:
Hormonal methods of contraception
Contraceptive methods include: contraceptive pills, vaginal rings, and others, which work to control the hormones responsible for building the lining of the uterus every month, as they reduce the duration and ease of the menstrual cycle for many women, and this results in pain relief in some cases.
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists and antagonists
Treatment with agonists and antagonists of the hormone responsible for the secretion of gonadal hormones, called Gonadotropin releasing hormone (Gn-RH). Small amounts of estrogen or progesterone to reduce side effects of artificial menopause such as vaginal dryness and bone loss from these medications.
Progestin therapy
Progestin treatments, including IUDs, injections, pills, and more, thin the lining of the uterus, which stops menstrual flow. According to some sources; Some women may experience irregular bleeding in the first year of treatment, and pain may occur at those bleeding times, but after a year, half of these women report that their periods have stopped. Months.
Aromatase inhibitors
Aromatase inhibitors aim to reduce estrogen levels in the body, thus relieving the pain associated with endometriosis.
Injections to treat endometriosis
The types of injections used to treat endometriosis differ, as they include many treatments and are not limited to a specific type, and the doctor prescribes the most appropriate type for each case, and the types of injections include the following:
- GnRH agonists and antagonists, including types that are injected once a month, and others that are injected every three months.
- Progestin and progesterone injections, which are injections given every 3 months.
Laparoscopic treatment of endometriosis
If your condition affects the chances of pregnancy and childbearing, the doctor may suggest conservative laparoscopic surgery as one of the methods of treating endometriosis during pregnancy. In getting rid of pain associated with non-migratory endometriosis.
- The doctor makes small incisions in the abdominal area.
- The endoscope is inserted through one of them.
- Then he inserts other surgical tools to remove the target tissue.
- He can see clearly through a special screen that is attached to the endoscope.
- After completion, the incisions are closed with sutures.
- He prescribes some medications during the recovery period, such as antibiotics and pain relievers.
- He may also recommend hormonal therapy to reduce the pain associated with this disease.
Does endometriosis return after laparoscopy?
Although the process of endometriosis aims to get rid of the symptoms associated with it and help in pregnancy, some studies indicated that some symptoms, such as pain, may return after a few years by quite a few, and the possibility of returning endometriosis depends on the severity of your condition and the skill of the doctor. . Discuss with your doctor the goals, advantages and disadvantages of this procedure before undergoing it.
Use of alternative therapies
You can resort to using alternative medicine methods such as:
Chinese acupuncture and cupping therapy help manage pain and reduce symptoms, but a doctor should be consulted first, then seek the help of an experienced, highly skilled and experienced therapist.
As for the method of heat therapy, it is a way to relieve pain that you can do at home by filling a cloth bag (or sock) with rice and heating it in the microwave for 30 seconds, or using a hot water bottle that you put on the place that hurts you, such as the abdomen or lower back, to relieve pain.
Endometriosis treatment by lifestyle changes
The disease affects your lifestyle and habits. You may feel tired and tired and want longer periods of sleep than usual.
1- sleep
It is normal for you to be tired and want to sleep more than usual when you suffer from this disease, as your body needs rest in order to deal with the pain, so you should get plenty of sleep ranging from 7 to 9 hours.
If you encounter sleep problems; You can follow the advice of doctors in this regard, and if the issue exceeds its limit and you cannot sleep at all, consult a doctor to prescribe sedative and hypnotic drugs.
2- Sports
It may be difficult to exercise when you are in pain, but studies have shown that exercise may play an important role in reducing symptoms. So you can exercise for 20 or 30 minutes a few times a week.
3- Follow a healthy diet
Some studies have shown that eating a lot of red meat and few vegetables increases the severity and pain of symptoms, so follow a balanced diet that contains more vegetables and fruits, especially those that contain vitamins (A, B, C) as they reduce symptoms, and also eat more vegetables Leafy greens like spinach are good for you. And reduce the intake of red meat and fats, because they increase the secretion of the hormone estrogen, which, if increased, leads to an increase in symptoms and severity of pain.