Endometriosis Growth after Hysterectomy

Endometriosis Growth after Hysterectomy

January 16th, 2010 by Michelle Mitchell

Are you suffering from endometriosis and desperately want to be treated? Although endometriosis is one of the most common reasons for hysterectomy in the United States, hysterectomy is usually not the best and definitely not the only option for the treatment of this condition. Endometriosis growth after hysterectomy is a common recurrence among women with this condition. Unfortunately, a lot of these women find out only after they’ve already undergone the hysterectomy procedure. The truth is that a hysterectomy usually only slows down the regrowth of endometriosis but does not completely cure it.

So why aren’t they advised by their doctors that endometriosis regrowth after hysterectomy is possible? Well, it seems that there are still a lot of doctors who go by the belief that endometriosis can be cured by a hysterectomy or a pregnancy. Only doctors that specialize in endometriosis are really aware of the latest developments on this condition and its treatment.

Since the regrowth of endometriosis after hysterectomy is a common result among hysterectomy patients, it would be best for you to consider other options first. Some of these include less invasive procedures such as non-surgical and laparoscopic treatments.

Hysterectomy is a procedure where the uterus is removed. Depending on the patient’s condition, the cervix, ovaries and fallopian tubes may also be removed. In addition, different techniques for performing the hysterectomy surgery may be employed, depending on what’s best for handling the patient’s condition. With the risk of endometriosis growth after hysterectomy, it is important for the right type of hysterectomy to be performed.

Studies show that there are less chances of endometriosis regrowth after hysterectomy when the ovaries are removed as opposed to when the ovaries are kept. However, although the removal of the ovaries yield better results, keep in mind that the removal of the ovaries might cause other problems. For one, the procedure for removing the ovaries poses more risks than other types of hysterectomies. Menopause begins after the ovaries are removed, and this will require the woman to undergo hormonal replacement therapy. Hormonal replacement therapy in itself also poses risks.

Hysterectomy may be good for treating endometriosis if it is present only in the reproductive organs. In this case, taking out the damaged organ may cure the disease. However, one reason that the regrowth of endometriosis after hysterectomy occurs is when the endometriosis is in other parts of the body such as in the bladder, bowel, arms, or legs. In these instances, a hysterectomy would obviously not help.

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  • Genny

    I hate how hysterectomy  is often used by itself without talking about removal of the ovaries too. Of course you're going to have reoccurance of endo if the ovaries are left....it's the hormones from the ovaries that spike the endo! Sorry, just expressing a personal pet peeve.

    7 months ago

  • lacy

    Im sick of how so many docs seem to act like this a cure for women with endo, unless its threatening your life if you dont get a hysterectomy then they shouldnt even be doing them! I know many women from other boards who are saying, Oh Im so sick of taking different horomones so Im getting a hysterectomy. The thing about that is you will be taking horomones for the rest of your life if you get a hyst. because it throws your body into a unnatural menopause, and youre endo WILL come back... it may not be in a month or maybe even a year or maybe even a couple years but it WILL be back and then what?!

    7 months ago

  • Teresa

    That's where I am at now.  I had a hysterectomy some years ago because of concern for cancer.  Slowly as the years went on I had to remove my ovaries one at a time because they were adhering to my side walls and causing unbelievable pain.  It was not until they went in to find the source of my pain that they learned of my endo.  I've now had three surgeries since my last ovary was removed, due to endo.  Even with everything out I'm still battling with this disease!  I had surgery this past Dec. 3rd and am still in pain!  They found 12 implants.  Four new endo implants and eight that were regrowing from previous sites that were treated by laser.  Where all this leads from here ??????  So far I'm not impressed with the last surgery and am so sick of the pain I could scream!

    7 months ago

  • Kip

    Well it only took my mother 4 months to tell me that a hyster would cure me........ NO MOM IT WON"T ! it's not just my uterus that's 'broke'

    7 months ago

  • Nicole

    ahaa yeah my brother says stuff like 'maybe in a few years they will finally agree to give you a hyster.." "no chris it wont solve the problem my endo is everywhere in my abdomin" "but it will slow it down! and you take out the pain problem!" "but i'll be in menopause and i cant take the fake hormones because they make me sick!" "oh yeah..." seriously, this conversation happens every so often.

    6 months ago

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