Treating Endometriosis with Medications

[x]   Tags: Endometriosis, Medications, Reproductive Medications, Danazol, Depo-Propvara, Hormonal Contraceptives, Uterine Pain, Reproductive Cysts, Cysts, Infertility, Menstruation Reproductive Surgery, Women's Health, Reproductive Health Health, Health Video, Medical Videos, Medical, Video

[x]   Transcript: Endometriosis is one of the most common health problems in women, so there are various medicines to treat it. Endometriosis occurs when the tissue that lines a woman's uterus, the endometrium, grows OUTSIDE of her womb on pelvic parts like the fallopian tubes, ovaries, and intestines. Endometriosis often causes pain in the lower abdomen and pelvis. Unfortunately, there is no CURE for the condition, but medication or surgery can help ease symptoms. Because medication is a more conservative treatment option, many doctors start there. Sometimes, simple over-the-counter drugs like ibuprofen and naproxene are enough to control mild endometriosis pain. If not, a doctor may prescribe hormonal medications. Hormonal contraceptives - like the Pill, the patch and the ring - are options that may both decrease menstrual flow AND prevent overgrowth of endometrium tissue outside the uterus. Additional medications to try include gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists. These drugs treat endometriosis by significantly reducing the amount of estrogen in a woman's body. This stops the menstrual cycle, and often causes additional menopausal-like side effects, including: hot flashes, bone loss, and vaginal dryness. For this reason, a woman treated with a gonadotropin-releasing hormone medication may ALSO take a low dose of estrogen. A third hormonal treatment for endometriosis is medroxy-progesterone, which is branded as Depo-Provara. This injectable drug contains progestin, a hormone that works AGAINST the effects of estrogen on endometrial tissue. Depo-Propvara also stops the menstrual cycle and may cause other symptoms like weight gain, depression, and decreased bone density. Finally, a weak male hormone called Danazol may be used to treat painful endometriosis. Danazol lowers the levels of estrogen and progesterone in a woman's body. Unfortunately, it may also cause unwanted and unavoidable side effects, including: facial hair growth, diminished breast size, oily skin, and weight gain. Although all of these medications may effectively ease the pain caused by endometriosis, other common symptoms like infertility problems may remain. For this reason, women with endometriosis trying get pregnant should consider surgical treatment, which is discussed in another video on this site.

[x]   Bio: Dr. Lauri Romanzi is a reconstructive pelvic surgeon, urogynecologist and clinical associate professor at Weill/Cornell New York Presbyterian Hosptial in New York City. Her urogynecologic research includes prolapse, incontinence, overactive bladder, Kegel fitness scoring, genital sensitivity nerve testing and fistula repair. Her 2009 book Plumbing and Renovation: If you have a uterus or know someone who does, this book is for you provides the lay public with a review on pelvic organ prolapse, urinary incontinence and pelvic floor fitness.

Dr. Romanzi has been a featured expert on the Today Show, The Dr. Oz Show and Good Morning America. Additional media credits include: NY Times, Fox 5, London Guardian, More Magazine, Redbook, Oprah Magazine, Telemundo, Radio Ritas, Dr. Radio, Cosmo Radio, London Times, Playboy Radio and Italian Playboy.

Dr. Romanzi advises women with pelvic floor disorders who cannot travel to New York through her blog (www.urogynics.org/blog – ask Dr R feature). In 2008 she opened PHIT, the world's first medical spa devoted to Kegel -focused feminine rejuvenation (www.theperfectphit.com ).

Dr. Romanzi's international work with Harvard Humanitarian Initiative, Surgeons Over Seas and other international groups includes teaching and volunteer surgery for women suffering childbirth injury and war trauma in Niger, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo.