Understanding Your Treatment Options for Endometriosis

Up to 11% of women ages 15-44 have endometriosis today. Many have experienced months or years of suffering — and that may be partly because there’s just not enough attention on this important women’s health subject.

Here at Trusted Women’s Health Center, our knowledgeable board-certified OB-GYN Sidiq Aldabbagh, MD, and compassionate women’s health care team are dedicated to shining a light on endometriosis and leading our patients out of the darkness, frustration, and pain the disease often causes. In this month’s blog, we’re discussing your treatment options for endometriosis in honor of National Endometriosis Awareness Month. 

There are two main options for endometriosis treatment today: medication and surgery. One thing is certain: continuing to suffer is not an option for our patients. So, we’re discussing your different choices below.

Medication for endometriosis

One medication option is nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which reduce inflammation and can ease pain. They’re not specifically for endometriosis but can be effective on an as-needed basis. They can also lower the risk of endometriosis scar tissue buildup.

Hormones are the main medication treatment option for endometriosis. Specifically, drugs that increase or reduce hormones. They can change your hormone levels to reduce bleeding, stop the growth of new endometrial tissue, and reduce pain. 

The newest endometriosis drug, Myfembree®, was FDA-approved in 2022. Myfembree is approved to reduce moderate-to-severe endometriosis-related pain. It’s also approved to reduce heavy bleeding from uterine fibroids. You can take the drug for a maximum of 24 months.

Myfembree contains a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) receptor antagonist (relugolix), along with norethindrone (synthetic progesterone) and estradiol (estrogen). The three work together to control your symptoms while decreasing relugolix-related bone loss and lowering the risk of estradiol-related uterine cancer. 

Regardless of the medication you use, it’s not a cure for endometriosis. When you stop taking medication your symptoms will most likely return if you’re still in your reproductive years. 

If your endometriosis symptoms persist after trying medication, you could be a good candidate for endometriosis surgery.

Surgery for endometriosis

The first surgical option for endometriosis surgery is usually laparoscopy. In this procedure, Dr. Aldabbagh uses advanced techniques to remove endometrial growths through tiny incisions around your belly button.

Most women experience significant endometriosis symptom relief afterward, which can last for months or years. However, laparoscopy isn’t a permanent solution. Up to 80% of women have endometriosis-related pain again within a couple of years, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

So, the best option to manage your endometriosis symptoms may include both medication and surgery at different points in your life. A lot depends on how severe your symptoms are, whether you want to have children soon, and your personal preferences. So, if you’re not planning children, a hysterectomy (uterus removal) could be an option for severe endo.

Our team walks you through all the options and helps you find the most effective way to manage your endometriosis.

There are also exciting new possibilities ahead, with new endometriosis drugs in the testing phases in other countries now. If approved, one such drug would be the first nonhormonal and nonsurgical treatment specifically for endometriosis in four decades. 

While there’s not a cure yet, endometriosis treatment options are constantly being investigated and improved. To learn more about your options and how we can help you, schedule an appointment online or by phone at our offices in Kendall or Miami, Florida, today. We offer weekday and weekend appointments, so don’t wait to connect for help.