| Endometriosis can cause severe pain before or during periods, also heavy or abnormal bleeding. As it damages tubes and ovaries, it often causes infertility (inability to conceive). The condition always worsens with time and in severe cases can result in total damage to all pelvic organs causing a ‘frozen pelvis.’
The diagnosis is made by history, examination and sonography. Sometimes a laparoscopy (Keyhole surgery) may be required to diagnose and treat endometriosis at the same time.
The treatment is essentially surgical. Nowadays, with endoscopic surgery, 2-3 very small cuts on the stomach wall are used to introduce a camera and operating instruments inside the pelvis and the endometriotic areas are removed and burnt using an electric current or laser.
Despite surgical removal, there is a possibility of recurrence of endometriosis, and some patients need multiple surgeries within a few years.
Medical treatment can be used to create ‘artificial menopause’ as when there are no periods, the endometriosis subsides. This can be done using continuous hormone tablets or once a month injections. However this form of treatment is temporary and has many side effects.
Young patients with endometriosis who want to have a baby may require specialised treatment like IUI or IVF (Test tube baby). If the patient is older and has had repeated surgeries, a total hysterectomy with oophorectomy (removing uterus and ovaries) is the final solution.
Dr. sharda jain/Dr. Jyoti aagarwal
Dr. rashmi jain /Dr. indu tyagi | 
Wow Library
