Patient's question:
Dear Doctor:Hello, unfortunately, I have been diagnosed with endometriosis. I would like to inquire about the treatment options.
Doctor's answer:
Hello:Treatment Methods for Endometriosis
Treatment methods are primarily divided into two categories: surgical and pharmacological, with considerations based on the patient's age, the severity of the condition, and whether there are fertility requirements. Treatment should be tailored to the individual.
I. Surgical Treatment: The earliest method used for treating endometriosis, it remains one of the primary approaches to this day. Surgical treatment is mainly suitable for patients with more severe conditions or those experiencing severe pain that does not respond to medication.
（1）Conservative Surgery: Only the endometriotic lesions are removed, while the ovaries and uterus are preserved. This is suitable for younger patients who wish to preserve their fertility, with approximately 50%-60% achieving pregnancy postoperatively. However, the recurrence rate of pain is relatively high.
（2）Semi-radical Surgery: Endometriotic lesions are removed along with the uterus, while at least part of the ovaries must be preserved. This is suitable for patients who have already borne children, are over 35 years old, suffer from persistent pain, or have concurrent uterine conditions. Semi-radical surgery can cure dysmenorrhea, and the recurrence of endometriosis is rare postoperatively.
（3）Radical Surgery: Both bilateral adnexa and the uterus are removed, which can completely cure endometriosis. This is suitable for women in menopause. In recent years, laparoscopic surgery has been widely used to treat endometriosis, and all procedures that can be performed via open surgery can also be done laparoscopically. Additionally, laparoscopic surgery offers advantages such as minimal trauma, faster recovery, and reduced postoperative pelvic adhesions.
The symptom relief rate and pregnancy rate achieved through laparoscopic surgery can match those of open surgery. It is gaining increasing attention.
II. Pharmacological Treatment: Suitable for patients with milder conditions and smaller chocolate cysts in the ovaries. The treatment duration is generally 6