Can endometriosis go away without treatment?

In this article below, extremely well-regarded consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, Mr Clemens von Widekind, discusses endometriosis in expert detail, as he tells us all about the associated symptoms, and how the condition is typically treated.

What is endometriosis?

Endometriosis affects many women. It is a chronic inflammation of the pelvis. Once the condition is diagnosed, women can live a good-quality life with the adequate management and treatment strategies.

What are the symptoms of endometriosis? Can it lead to other health conditions?

The symptoms are typically lower abdominal pain, painful sexual intercourse, and painful periods. These symptoms, in most women, occur around the time of a woman’s period, but not all women suffer endometriosis symptoms during this time.

In some cases, a woman’s bowel, bladder, and urethra can be affected by endometriosis. This can interfere with bowel function and/or obstruction in the urethra. This is in extreme cases though, and each year I only see a handful of women who suffer from this kind of severe endometriosis.

What causes the condition? Is stress a factor?

The causes are not very clear. It is believed by some that when women have a period, the blood spills into the abdomen and the cells from the lining are deposited in the abdomen and they start growing there.

Another potential cause is that, for some reason, the function of the cells in the pelvis can be interfered with, and all of a sudden, the woman develops small blood deposits, which can move on to scarring and cysts.

Stress is not a factor in the development of endometriosis, but people can become extremely stressed as a result of the development of the condition. It is essential to start with treatment as soon as possible where necessary, as one’s mental health can severely be affected by this condition.

How is endometriosis treated? Can it go away without treatment?

Endometriosis requires treatment in various ways, and unfortunately, it does not go away by itself without treatment. Treatment very much depends on the tolerance to the drugs prescribed. Many women do not tolerate these drugs particularly well.

If they don’t respond well to the initial endometriosis drug treatment, minimally invasive techniques (such as a laparoscopy) are carried out. Through a laparoscopy, we can identify what stage the endometriosis is at, and we can then act appropriately by removing endometriosis so that one can try to have no hormonal suppressive treatment.

Mr Clemens von Widekind is a highly experienced and skilled consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist. Visit his Top Doctors profile to book an appointment with him.