Endometriosis is a common but very painful condition that affects between five and 10% of women between the ages of 15 to 49 years old. Although there is no cure for endometriosis, one way to get relief is through endometriosis surgery.
Getting endometriosis surgery helps to manage symptoms and can keep the progression of endometriosis from progressing. Life after endometriosis surgery can bring relief and hope to many women. We’ll look at what to expect after your endometriosis surgery in our guide below.
What is Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a woman’s health condition when tissue that should grow inside of your uterus grows on the outside instead. This condition can cause issues like pain in the pelvis, pain with periods, and infertility.
Endometriosis can also impact other areas of the body and cause anxiety, depression, increased fatigue, and even cardiovascular disease.
Many people with this condition get misdiagnosed or never get a diagnosis in the first place. Many of the symptoms of endometriosis can mimic other conditions, making it a challenging condition to officially diagnose.
Endometriosis Treatment
Although endometriosis can’t be cured, several treatments can help slow the progression of this condition, manage pain, and help with fertility. The type of treatment recommended will depend on how advanced your endometriosis is and if you want children.
One option to help with endometriosis is through the use of different medications. Using different medications that mimic different hormones in the body can help manage the symptoms of endometriosis.
Endometriosis surgery is the next step if the medications are not working the way they should. Most surgery used for endometriosis is done laparoscopically.
During endometriosis surgery, your surgeon will remove the endometrial implants and scar tissue from the body. Usually, this is done with a laser. After the surgery, many women have reduced pain and a chance that endometriosis will slow in the future.
Life After Endometriosis Surgery
Patients will need general anesthesia when they get endometriosis surgery. Most people will need to wait in a recovery room for a few hours but will get to go home that day.
Usually, the recovery from endometriosis surgery takes about a week. Your first period after endometriosis surgery may be heavier with more cramping pain.
You may notice increased fatigue after your surgery. Soreness at the incision sites and difficulty sitting or walking right after the surgery are common too. Increased gas and constipation are other post-endometriosis surgery symptoms.
Many times, a provider will also prescribe hormonal therapy like birth control to use in conjunction with surgery. This step can help keep endometriosis from coming back and can further lessen symptoms of this condition.
Take a Step Toward Relief With Endometriosis Surgery
Life after endometriosis surgery will vary from person to person. With care and support, people with endometriosis start to adjust to their new, improved quality of life. Although it may take a bit of time to feel back to normal after the surgery, the relief that many feel afterward brings about feelings of hope and relief.
If you’re in the Boise area and are looking for the best women’s healthcare with incredible providers, Women’s Health Associates is here for you. We’ve been providing compassionate and quality care for women at every stage of life since 1995. Schedule your first appointment by contacting us today.
