Surgerycan be used to treatendometriosis, but for some people, the relief is not permanent.Endometriosiscan return after surgery.
Endometriosis tissue can be removed (excision) or destroyed using intense heat (ablation).
Laparoscopy can also be used to confirm adiagnosis of endometriosis.
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Sometimes, both a diagnosis and excision or ablation occur during the same laparoscopic procedure.
Laparotomy
Excisionand ablation can also be performed using a laparotomy.
During a laparotomy, a larger abdominal incision is made.
This surgery is less common than laparoscopy for treating endometriosis.
Hysterectomy/Oophorectomy
Ahysterectomyis the surgical removal of the uterus.
Removal of one or both ovaries is called an oophorectomy.
This procedure may be done independently or by removing the uterus and/or other reproductive organs.
Removal of both ovaries induces menopause.
Typically, hysterectomy and/or oophorectomy are only used if other treatments have been ineffective.
What Does Endometriosis Recurrence Mean?
After surgery, new endometriosis lesions can develop similarly to the initial endometriosis.
The exact cause of endometriosis isn’t known conclusively, but one widely accepted theory formenstruatingis retrograde menstruation.
Symptoms of endometriosismay include:
How Quickly Can Endometriosis Grow Back After Surgery?
The time frame for recurrence of endometriosisafter surgeryis not well-established.
This data may not apply to those whose recurrence is not significant enough to need further surgery.
Studies have found potentialrisk factorsmay include:
Not all studies agree on these risk factors.
Some studies have found thatpregnancy after surgerymay help prevent recurrence of endometriosis.
Your healthcare provider can help you determine the bestcourse of treatmentfor you and your needs.
Summary
Surgery such as laparoscopy, laparotomy, or hysterectomy/oophorectomy can be an effective treatment for endometriosis.
In some cases, endometriosis can recur after surgery.
Talk to your healthcare provider aboutpost-operative careand treatment.
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Wollongong Obstetrics and Gynaecology.Hysterectomy for the removal of endometriosis: What works best.
Bozdag G.Recurrence of endometriosis: risk factors, mechanisms and biomarkers.Womens Health (Lond Engl).
2021;27(1):96-107. doi:10.1093/humupd/dmaa033
Office on Women’s Health.Endometriosis.
2020;302(1):23-30. doi:10.1007/s00404-020-05586-3
Seckin Endometriosis Center.Why can endometriosis return after surgery?
