Endometriosis

Although surgery doesn't cure endometriosis, it does offer short-term results for most women and long-term relief for a few.

Surgery may be recommended when:

• Treatment with hormone therapy has not controlled symptoms, and symptoms interfere with daily living.
• Endometrial implants or scar tissue (adhesions) interferes with the functions of other organs in the belly.
• Endometriosis causes infertility.

Surgery choices

• Reference Laparoscopy is the most common procedure used to Reference diagnose and treat endometriosis. If your doctor recommends a laparoscopy, it will be used to look for and possibly to remove or destroy implants and scar tissue.
• Reference Hysterectomy with oophorectomy is for women who have no plans to get pregnant. It can help with pain for the long term. But after your ovaries are removed, the side effects of low estrogen levels can be severe. And when you start menopause early, your risk of future Reference osteoporosis Opens New Window increases unless you take measures to protect your bones.

Opens New Window Endometriosis: Should I Have a Hysterectomy and Oophorectomy? Opens New Window

Opens New Window Hysterectomy and Oophorectomy: Should I Use Estrogen Therapy (ET)? Opens New Window

What to think about

Some studies suggest that using hormone therapy after surgery can make the pain-free period longer by preventing the growth of new or returning endometriosis.^{Reference 4}

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