There is currently no cure for
endometriosis. But a variety of treatment options exist, and there are ways
to minimize the symptoms caused by the condition.
Treatments
There are several ways to treat
pain, including:
-
Pain medication – may be used
to relieve symptoms
-
Hormone therapy – may be used
to control the growth of endometriosis
-
Surgery – may be used to
remove growths or control the size of very large endometriosis and to
relieve pain.
Hormone treatments and surgery
may help women who are unable to become pregnant. There are also other
treatments for infertility associated with endometriosis.
Does endometriosis lead
to cancer?
Current research does not prove
an association between endometriosis and endometrial, cervical, uterine, or
ovarian cancers. In very rare cases (less than 1 percent) endometriosis is
seen with a certain type of cancer, called endometrioid cancer; but,
endometriosis is not known to cause this cancer.
But, scientists still don’t know what causes endometriosis or what its
mechanisms are in the body. In addition, many women are never diagnosed as
having endometriosis, which makes linking the condition to other diseases
more difficult.
For this reason, women who are diagnosed with endometriosis need to be
especially watchful of changes to or in their bodies; they need to
communicate these changes to their health care providers as soon as
possible.
