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Endometriosis

There are a number of options for treating and managing endometriosis. These include lifestyle changes, medication, and surgery. There is a risk of persistence, despite treatment; there is also a risk of relapse after treatment.

The goals of treatment are to control pain, slow the growth of endometrial tissue, and restore fertility, if desired. The choice of preferred treatment depends on your age, the severity of your symptoms, where the endometrial tissue is growing, how large the growths are, and your desire for pregnancy.

Treatment involves the following:

References:

American Academy of Family Physicians website. Available at: http://www.aafp.org/ . Accessed March 1, 2006.

Griffith’s 5-Minute Clinical Consult . Lippincott Williams and Wilkins; 1999.

Kistner’s Gynecology and Women’s Health . 7th ed. Mosby-Year Book; 1999.

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development website. Available at: http://www.nichd.nih.gov/ . Accessed March 1, 2006.

Rakel RE and Bope ET. Conn's Current Therapy 2001 . 53rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: W.B. Saunders Company; 2001.

Howard FM. An evidence-based medicine approach to the treatment of endometriosis-associated chronic pelvic pain: placebo-controlled studies. J American Assoc Gynecol Laparoscopists. 2000;7(4):477-488.

Farquhar C, Sutton C. The evidence for the management of endometriosis. Curr Opinion in Obstet & Gynecol. 1998;10(4):321-332.

Appleyard TL, Mann CH, Khan KS. Guidelines for the management of pelvic pain associated with endometriosis: a systematic appraisal of their quality. BJOG. 2006;113(7):749-757.

Last reviewed February 2007 by Jeff Andrews, MD, FRCSC, FACOG

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Treatments for Endometriosis

Endometriosis

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