ost cases even detect endometriosis. The only way to receive a definitive diagnosis is via biopsy taken from laparoscopic surgery.
How is endometriosis treated?
Hormones + GnRH
After an initial diagnosis of endometriosis, the majority of patients are put on hormones or estrogen depleting medications named GnRH antagonist (Lupron). Unfortunately, neither are a very effective treatment for the disease and only mask symptoms for a limited time. In addition, they bring with them a slew of awful side effects.
Most gynecologists perform ablation surgery. This technique may open up a short-term window of fertility, but is unsuccessful in treating pain and the disease long term. It only removes the surface layer of the disease, leaving cells behind and often fuels endo to grow back even stronger. The ablation technique leaves women with an 85% chance of the disease returning.
The gold standard treatment for endometriosis is excision surgery. This technique removes deep infiltrating endometriosis at the root of the disease. Excision is performed by an endometriosis excision specialist. This treatment is the closest thing to a cure, leaving women with less than a 5% chance of the disease returning.
Pregnancy & hysterectomy are NOT cures or proper treatment options for endometriosis.
Why early diagnosis + treatment is important
The earlier a woman is diagnosed and given proper treatment, the better chance she has of regaining a pain-free life. If someone is in late stage of the disease with a lot of internal trauma (like myself), successful excision surgery can greatly improve their quality of life but in some cases may not take away their pain entirely. So many years of harm to the tissues from repeated ablation surgeries and tensing of pelvic floor muscles can result in nerve issues and heightened pain signals.
Pelvic Floor Therapy is a widely successful treatment option for continued pain after excision surgery and is recommended by most specialists. Some women who have not tried surgical intervention also find relief of symptoms with PFT. This is also a great treatment option for those who are struggling with urinary or bowel dysfunction, and especially Interstitial Cystitis – a painful bladder disease commonly diagnosed with endometriosis.
Pressing Issues in Endometriosis Treatment:
- The gold standard treatment, excision surgery, is performed by an endometriosis excision specialist. There are roughly only 20-30 excision specialist in the US.
- Excision surgery is not recognized by health insurance as medically necessary. As a result surgeons are not adequately reimbursed for their long, tedious surgeries. Although in-network hospital bills are covered for patients, surgeon fees are not.
- Time and time again, women share stories of having their pain dismissed by doctors and not further investigated. Women’s pain must be taken seriously.
Pressing Issues in Endometriosis Education:
- The lack of awareness surrounding endometriosis and excision surgery is appalling. Primary doctors, medical students and gynecologists are severely uninformed. The ACOG is not keeping gynecologists properly educated about endo. As a consequence, patients are often mistreated, misinformed and uninformed about all their treatment options.
- Societal views regarding female pain have led women to believe that debilitating periods are a normal part of life. In fact, missing work, school, social activities and being in excruciating pain during your cycle is NEVER normal.
- Outdated information and myths about endometriosis are still floating around.
- Despite being one of the most common diseases, there is little funding towards endometriosis research, education and finding a cure.
Reliable resources and information on endometriosis:
- Understanding Endometriosis
- Thoracic Endometriosis
- Bowel Endometriosis
- Excision Surgery
- Endometriosis Awareness
To find an endometriosis excision specialist near you I recommend joining the Facebook page Nancy’s Nook. She has a database of recognized excision doctors in America and other countries. Once accepted in