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.