Endometrial tissue lines the uterus of a woman. This tissue lining is referred to as endometrium. Every time you have your period, your body grows a new endometrium to get ready for an egg to be fertilized.
This article will provide insights into different endometriosis surgery types that can help overcome the condition and restore the quality of life.
Endometriosis – here’s how it’s defined as:
Endometriosis is a condition that occurs when the tissue that lines the uterus similarly grows outside the uterus.
Endometriosis can usually be diagnosed on:
- Ovaries
- Outside of the uterus
- Tissues surrounding the uterus
- Fallopian tubes
This lining usually does not shed like the normal uterus lining that sheds during periods. As this outer lining builds up, it can lead to inflammation and painful cysts.
The signs that indicate endometriosis:
- Severe pain associated with periods
- Bleeding in between periods
- Unable to get pregnant naturally
What are the risk factors for developing endometriosis?
Research has shown that some things make a person more likely to get endometriosis. These include:
- Family history
- Early start of periods
- A shorter gap between periods
- Heavy menstrual flow.
Here are a few things that can reduce the risk of endometriosis:
- Getting pregnant
- Breastfeeding
- Changes in lifestyle.
Why is endometriosis surgery recommended?
If endometriosis pain is severe and medicine is ineffective, your doctor may recommend surgery. They can locate the endometriosis within your body and remove all or a portion of the affected tissue.
There are other factors to consider, including if you wish to become pregnant. There are various endometriosis surgery types from which the doctor chooses depending on the patient’s condition. Before deciding on the surgery, an endometriosis surgery diagnosis is recommended to get a complete picture of the endometriosis.
Are all endometriosis surgery types considered major surgery?
Most of the time, no. In the past, open surgery, involving a large cut across your abdomen, was the only way to get rid of endometriosis. Today, though, everyone recommended surgery for endometriosis can have a laparoscopy, a surgery that only needs small cuts and is less invasive.
What are different endometriosis surgery types recommended?
Laparoscopy endometriosis surgery:
- This minimally invasive method is the most common way to treat endometriosis with surgery.
- Laparoscopic surgery can treat mild to severe cases of endometriosis performed by a skilled gynaecologist.
- During the procedure, they will make a small cut in the abdomen so they can put a laparoscope, a small tube with a camera, through it.
- In some situations, they might have to make two or more cuts.
- Endometriosis laparoscopic surgery recovery is quite quicker as it does not involve any large cuts.
Laparotomy procedure:
- This form of open surgical treatment is less common than it once was.
- Laparoscopy causes less discomfort than laparotomy.
- One major incision is made across the abdomen instead of multiple smaller ones.
- If the condition is severe or you do not match for laparoscopy, your physician may perform a laparotomy.
Hysterectomy endometriosis surgery type:
- If your reproductive organs are injured or covered in endometriosis tissue, your physician may need to remove any or all of them.
- A hysterectomy is the process of taking out the uterus.
- Oophorectomy is when the ovaries are taken out by surgery.
- Before the surgery, your endometriosis surgeon will discuss with you if they may have to proceed with this step, and they will only do so with your consent.
- Doctors may prescribe a hysterectomy for women who experience symptoms that persist despite various therapies and have no intention of having children in the future.
Removal of endometriotic nodules or lesions:
- It involves cutting out (excision) or burning off areas of endometriosis that can be seen.
- Other medical terms for getting rid of endometriosis are “ablation” and “fulguration,” which use different types of energy.
- When superficial endometriosis nodules or lesions are cut out, the removed tissue is sent to a lab for testing.
- This provides pathological confirmation.
- But both excision and ablation are just as good at relieving pain as each other.
Surgical removal of the affected tissues:
- Most of the time, it is the best way to treat ovarian endometriosis (an endometrioma cyst) since the cyst wall is removed instead of the ovary being drained and ablated or blown up.
- When surgery is done simultaneously as endometriosis laparoscopic surgery, pain is relieved more, and ovarian tissue is better protected.
- For women who want to have children, keeping as much ovarian tissue as possible is crucial.
Who is required to undergo endometriosis surgery?
A doctor can help you decide if you need endometriosis surgery treatment and also the endometriosis surgery type. Surgery could be helpful if:
- If you’re in severe pain
- Medications provide you with no relief
- You are facing difficulty in getting pregnant
Is surgery an option to cure endometriosis?
Although currently there is no complete cure for endometriosis, undergoing surgery can help you find relief from the endometriosis symptoms, and if you’re looking to get pregnant, this can help.
On what factors does the recurrence of endometriosis after surgery depend?
Whether or not endometriosis returns after surgery depends on two things:
- The condition’s severity at the time of operation
- How much of the affected tissue is removed during the surgery?
To get maximum endometriosis surgery benefits, choosing the right endometriosis surgery type is important.
Outlook of the condition:
Endometriosis can be an extremely frustrating and mentally affecting condition. You must notice any abnormalities in your period cycle or the flow of your periods to undergo early treatment. However, there is a high chance for endometriosis to recur.
Even after surgery, visit your gynecologist at regular intervals to get checked for any chances of recurrences. Reach out to the best gynaecologist hospital in Coimbatore, if you have any signs of endometriosis.
