Surgery for Endometriosis
Surgical options for women dealing with endometriosis
Endometriosis can be a very challenging condition, causing significant pain, impacting fertility, and affecting a woman’s quality of life. Primary treatment options include hormone therapy, pain medications and lifestyle changes. When those treatments do not relieve a patient’s symptoms, our Austin and Dripping Springs endometriosis experts explain that surgery for endometriosis may be an option. While surgery cannot cure endometriosis, many women experience significant symptom relief after endometrial surgery.
Who should have surgery for endometriosis?
The goals of endometrial surgery are to reduce pain, improve fertility and prevent damage to pelvic organs.
Women experiencing these symptoms could be candidates for surgery.
Severe and chronic pain
Large endometrial lesions
Infertility
Lesions affecting other organs
No benefit from medications or other treatments
Endometrial laparoscopy is the most commonly performed surgery
Laparoscopy is used to remove endometriosis lesions and scar tissue. During this surgery for endometriosis, a thin tube with a light and a camera called a laparoscope is inserted through a tiny incision, allowing the OBGYN to see endometriosis lesions and scar tissue. One or two more small incisions are made to insert the instruments used to remove tissue.
For women who want to become pregnant, endometrial laparoscopy is the best choice. Other benefits of laparoscopic surgery include shorter recovery time and smaller scars.
Laparotomy and hysterectomy are available for advanced cases
Advanced cases of endometriosis may require the physician to do a laparotomy. This type of surgery for endometriosis uses one large incision that allows the surgeon to visualize the entire area better. Patients with large lesions, previous scar tissue, or an enlarged uterus may need a laparotomy. This procedure has a longer recovery time, including time in the hospital and several weeks of modified activity after returning home.
The final surgical treatment option is hysterectomy, the removal of the uterus. Depending on the extent of the endometriosis and what organs are involved, the ovaries or fallopian tubes may also be removed. The decision to have this surgery requires careful consideration because it results in a woman no longer being able to become pregnant.
Even after a hysterectomy, it is still possible for endometriosis to return. Removal of the ovaries does significantly slow or stop the growth of endometrial tissue, but this will put the woman into menopause, and she will experience the side effects and risk factors that accompany natural menopause.
Important considerations for endometrial surgery
The decision of whether to perform a laparoscopy, laparotomy or hysterectomy is based on the specifics of the patient’s condition, the patient’s overall health, and whether the patient desires to become pregnant.
Patients need to know that surgery for endometriosis can reduce the severity of the condition, but does not cure endometriosis. It is possible that endometriosis can recur, and pain may return within a few years after surgery.
If your endometriosis treatment is not helping and you would like to discuss endometrial surgery with our Austin and Dripping Springs endometriosis experts, contact Hill Country OB/GYN Associates for an appointment.