Myth: Hormonal treatments treat and/or cure Endometriosis
Fact: “[Medical Suppression] can bring about an improvement in symptoms for many women. It clearly does not make the disease go away. Drugs can be used to affect the amount of estrogen stimulation the endometriosis implants receive. Theoretically, the less stimulation the tissue receives, the less cell activity occurs in the implants. This, in turn, slows the rate of progression and the amount of local injury. The price you pay is in side effects from the medicine, the cost of the drugs, and the fact that the endometriosis is still there.” The Center for Endometriosis Care (CEC)
Myth: Getting pregnant cures Endometriosis
Fact: "Some women find that their pain symptoms are reduced during pregnancy, but this is not the case for everyone. In most cases, endometriosis will return after giving birth and stopping breast feeding.
Fortunately, the myth that pregnancy cures endometriosis is slowly disappearing. However, it is not disappearing fast enough! The reality is that pregnancy—like hormonal drug treatments—usually suppresses the symptoms of endometriosis but does not eradicate the disease itself. Therefore, symptoms usually recur after the birth of the child. Most women can delay the return of symptoms by breastfeeding, but only while the breastfeeding is frequent enough and intense enough to suppress the menstrual cycle.” Endometriosis.org
Myth: Hysterectomy cures Endometriosis
Fact: “Hysterectomy absolutely, positively will stop a woman from menstruating. Obviously, this also stops menstrual cramps. Removing the uterus, however, has no effect whatsoever on endometriosis. If the endometrial implants are responsible for symptoms (pain with intercourse, diarrhea, painful bowel movements, painful or frequent urination) and they are not removed along with the uterus, the symptoms will not change. Similarly, removing the ovaries and leaving endometrial implants behind is not likely to do anything but throw the patient into menopause, possibly creating a whole new set of problems.
“When a hysterectomy is performed for endometriosis, removing the endometrial implants along with the uterus give the patient the best possible chance for relieving her symptoms. We always try to preserve the ovaries if possible, particularly in the younger patients.
“Hysterectomy with or without removal of the ovaries does not, repeat does not, cure endometriosis.” Women's Surgery Group
Myth: Endometriosis can be prevented
Fact: “There is no current manner of preventing Endometriosis, and it is not a disease which is “contracted” or “caused” by anything the patient did – nor is it contagious. It is, however, highly suspected to be genetic.” Endometriosis Research Center (ERC)
Source: www.livingwithendometriosis.org
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