Is Surgery the Best Option for Endometriosis?

Severe endometriosis can significantly impact your quality of life. While the answer to whether surgery is the best option will not be the same for every woman, it is vital to explore all common treatment options to determine what is truly medically indicated for your unique body.

If you want to have children or are finding it increasingly hard to manage the symptoms of endometriosis, your doctor might suggest endometriosis surgery. However, at Endometriosis Surgical Specialists International (ESSI), we believe that any surgical intervention must be carefully evaluated by a world-class team. Your doctor must meet with you, listen to your goals, and ensure that surgery is the absolute best step for your long-term health.

Here is an exploration of the treatments that may be recommended before, or in addition to, surgical intervention, and how to know when surgery is the right path.

Lifestyle Changes and Medical Management

Before proceeding to surgery, or as an adjunct to it, your endometriosis specialist may start your treatment plan by suggesting certain lifestyle changes to manage the condition.

• These recommendations may include cutting out certain foods like trans fats, as well as irritants like caffeine and alcohol.

• You may also be encouraged to increase your daily exercise, as studies show there may be a link between exercise and endometriosis severity.

• Lifestyle changes may be recommended before or in addition to surgery.

If your symptoms require further management, hormone therapy can help with endometriosis by reducing the amount of estrogen that your body produces. This treatment can encourage the existing endometriosis tissue to shed, and prevent further tissue growth. Hormone therapies can take the form of a few different individual or combined pills, including birth control, estrogen, and progesterone pills. However, it is crucial to note that hormone therapy does not improve fertility or the chance of developing adhesions (when endometriosis tissues from different organs fuse together).

When is Surgery Medically Indicated?

When lifestyle adjustments and hormonal therapies are insufficient, or when the disease compromises your organs or fertility, surgery becomes the necessary standard of care.

Laparoscopic surgery is the use of a thin tube (called a laparoscope) with a light and camera that helps doctors find and treat endometriosis. The doctor will make a small incision on your abdomen or belly button. If the surgery is being used to treat the condition, the laparoscopy may include the removal of ovarian cysts or scarring caused by endometriosis. This type of surgery might help to improve feelings of pain caused by endometriosis.

Many doctors recommend laparoscopic endometriosis excision, where a surgeon removes all the excess endometrial tissue from the body through a small incision. You might be considered for this treatment if you have:

• Severe pain caused by endometriosis.

• Trouble conceiving or a desire to become pregnant in the future.

• An ovarian cyst or a large mass of scar tissue.

• Adhesions or interference with your bowel or bladder.

Advanced Robotic Excision and Choosing Your Team

Choosing the best team for your surgery is the most important decision you can make. At ESSI, our world-class specialists utilize state-of-the-art techniques to ensure the safest and most effective outcomes.

Your surgeon will operate special robotic devices from a tiny console, which allows them to precisely and carefully perform the delicate surgery with fewer risks. Your surgeon will use the robot like an assistant to remove excess tissue from the back and side of your uterus, your bladder, your bowel, your fallopian tubes, and any other affected organs. The robotic system is called the Da Vinci Surgery technology. It is minimally invasive, and is a great choice for more complex procedures.

In certain severe cases, a hysterectomy may be discussed. A hysterectomy is the surgical removal of the womb. After this surgery, you will no longer have periods or be able to become pregnant. For this reason, it is only recommended if you do not want to have children or your condition poses significant health risks. Other, less invasive treatments will also be tried before a hysterectomy is recommended. Your doctor will work with you to help you decide if a hysterectomy is the best decision for your health.

Your Unique Path to Healing

No two paths to treatment will—or should—look exactly alike. Your unique body, goals, and preferences should make a difference in the way your doctor develops a treatment plan.

Whether you are seeking a second opinion, need a new doctor who listens and cares about your wellbeing, or simply want to find out more about whether endometriosis surgery is right for you, contact the world-class team at ESSI today.