Understanding The Drugs Used To Treat Endometriosis

A woman with endometriosis will be prescribed certain drugs by her doctor. The trend today is to be more inquisitive about what medicine you take, simply because it is important to know the side effects. The more you know about the drug, the better you will be able to make decisions about whether you would rather take this drug or an alternative medication or remedy.

The most commonly prescribed drug for endometriosis is the contraceptive pill. It is used to help women with mild symptoms, and is known to help relieve pain, cramps, and even painful sex. The basic principle behind taking the Pill is trying to make the body think that it is pregnant so that it will not produce more estrogen which endometriosis feeds on.

The side effects of taking contraceptives is of course inability to get pregnant. You can also gain weight, develop acne, and increase hair growth.

Another drugs is Danazol which is a male hormone in the mildest form. This substance is used to also decrease the production of estrogen so that the body thinks it is going through menopause. It also has ill effects like acne, depression, hair growth, weight gain, mood swings, a deepening of the voice, and smaller breasts. You can also get liver disease and gastrointestinal disorders

Gonadotrophin Releasing Hormone (GnRH) agonists is anti-estrogen which aims to block egg development and the menstrual cycle. The theory is if the body thinks it is menopausal, then it will help slow down the growth of endometriosis to the point of being inactive.

The side effects of this drug is similar to menopause symptoms such as hot flashes, headaches, night sweat, thinning of the bones, loss of libido, dry vagina, and depression.

Progesterone hormone pills are used to also attack the production of estrogen and it does this by stopping ovulation. The side effects of taking this tablet is depression, dizziness, nausea, mood swings, weight gain, irregular periods, and fatigue. This tablet can also cause blood clots or thrombosis.

Finally, the Mirena Coil is a treatment that will stop or reduce the blood flow during the menstrual period. It is not a drug, but more of an object that is inserted into the womb for a set amount of time. This coil will need to be replaced regularly by a doctor.

You can expect a light to moderate monthly period because of this coil. It contains a tiny amount of Levonorgestrel which is a hormone that is also found in contraceptives. The problem with using this coil is the possibility of developing cysts in the ovaries or infections in the womb.