Patient's question:
What other treatments are available for endometriosis besides laparoscopic surgery and danazol?Doctor's answer:
Hello, the treatment methods for this disease mainly fall into two categories: surgery and medication, which should be comprehensively considered based on factors such as 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 severe conditions or those experiencing severe pain that is not effectively managed by medication.
(1) Conservative Surgery: Only the endometriotic lesions are removed, while the ovaries and uterus are preserved. This is suitable for young patients who wish to preserve their fertility, with approximately 50%-60% achieving pregnancy post-surgery. 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 given birth, are over 35 years old, suffer from persistent pain, or have concurrent uterine conditions. Semi-radical surgery can completely cure dysmenorrhea, and the recurrence rate of endometriosis after surgery is very low.
(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. All surgical 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 adhesion.
The symptom relief rate and pregnancy rate after laparoscopic surgery can achieve the same effects as open surgery. It is increasingly gaining attention.
II. Medication Treatment: Suitable for patients with mild conditions and small chocolate cysts in the ovaries. The treatment duration is generally 6-9 months. If used as adjuvant therapy before or after surgery, the duration can be shortened to 3-6 months.