What Is Endometriosis?
9. Prognosis
In one-third of women with endometriosis, the condition has been found to resolve on its own without treatment. However, it is a progressive disease with unpredictable disease extent that can lead to complications. While as many as 95% respond to treatment for pain, therapy for infertility is generally ineffective. As many as 50% experience a return of their symptoms within 5 years with treatment; 80% to 85% of patients experience pain relief with a combination of estrogen and progestins while 90% reported adequate pain relief after 6 months of danazol therapy.
To improve fertility rates, minimally invasive surgery can be beneficial. Surgery (total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oopherectomy - removal of uterus and ovaries) is the best chance for resolution of pain. About 30% to 40% of patients will be subfertile.
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