Table of Contents
Treatment
There is no perfect way of managing endometriosis. The three basic treatment approaches are:
- Watchful waiting (to relieve symptoms)
- Hormonal therapy (to reduce the size of endometrial implants)
- Surgery (to reduce endometrial implants, restore fertility, or possibly cure the condition)
The choice depends on a number of factors, including the woman's symptoms, her age, whether fertility is a factor, and the severity of the disease.
Watchful Waiting
Delaying treatment may be most appropriate for women with mild endometriosis or those who are approaching the age of menopause.
Women may also use lifestyle modifications, such as exercise and relaxation, to cope with their pain. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Advil) and naproxen (Aleve), or acetaminophen (Tylenol), can help provide some pain relief.
Hormonal Therapy
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Review Date: 07/26/2010
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine,
Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital.
Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M.,
Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
