Treating Endometriosis

Pain Medication

Your doctor may recommend:

• Over-the-counter pain relievers to ease mild symptoms
• Prescription pain relievers (often needed)
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce inflammation and help with cramping (best when taken on a regular basis)

Hormonal Therapy

Hormones are an option for women who are not trying to become pregnant. Birth control pills and other injectable drugs interfere with estrogen production. These medications may decrease pain and shrink the size and number of endometrial growths.

But endometrial growth tends to come back when the hormones are stopped. A common way to take birth control pills is continuously, so that you no longer menstruate.

Surgery

If you have severe symptoms or you want to get pregnant, doctors can try to remove endometrial growths. This is often done with laparoscopic surgery. In severe cases, it may be advised to also remove the uterus and ovaries . But this means that you cannot get pregnant.