Health Center - Reproductive and Pelvic Health
No matter your age, the health of your reproductive and urinary organs—your pelvic organs—is important. If something goes wrong "down there," it affects your overall health and quality of life. Get answers to all of your most pressing questions and put an end to embarrassing symptoms.
Diagnosing and Treating Endometriosis
- Medication. Medications to treat endometriosis are designed to suppress ovulation, which prevents hormones from signaling endometrial tissue to grow and shed. All are equally effective, and all relieve pain from endometriosis. Specific medications include:
- Oral contraceptives. Side effects may include nausea and headaches.
- GnRH analogues are hormonal treatments that block estrogen production, which stimulates the growth of the endometrial tissue. However, GnRH drugs are typically only used for six months. They cause menopausal symptoms like hot flashes, and by blocking estrogen can weaken bones or increase your risk of heart disease.
- Medroxyprogesterone or other progestins. These synthetic versions of progesterone can be given via injection or orally. Side effects include weight gain, depressed mood and abnormal uterine bleeding.
- Danazol (Danocrine), a male hormone that suppresses ovulation. Side effects may include weight gain, hair growth and acne. This drug is rarely prescribed these days.
Once medical treatment stops, more than 50 percent of women find their symptoms return within a year.
