If you are one of the millions of American women who suffer from endometriosis, you know that it isn’t a disease with a miracle cure.  In many cases, endometriosis isn’t just a disease – it’s a problem you battle throughout your life.  Although there is hope for endometriosis sufferers, the bottom line is that treatment is often only a temporary fix.  In many cases, the endometriosis returns and progresses.  For the women suffering from the disease, it can be frustrating and dismaying.

To truly understand why the disease can’t be easily cured, it’s important to have a bit of insight on the nature of the disease.  Although it is a common one, occurring in about 5-10 percent of American women, many people don’t really know what the disease entails.

In a normal, healthy woman’s body, a woman’s ovaries produce certain types of hormones.  These hormones act as stimulants for the lining of a woman’s uterus.  Multiplying and preparing for the arrival of fertilized eggs are the function of these cells.  Each time this happens, the lining of a woman’s uterus becomes thicker as it swells.  Each month, during menstruation, the cells are shed and fall away harmlessly.

This is a normal process and no cause for alarm.  Endometriosis is a different story altogether.  If a woman is suffering from endometriosis, she has cells that lodge themselves outside the uterus.  These cells don’t shed during menstruation.  In fact, they usually collect, forming scar tissue or adhesions.  It can mean pain, discomfort, infertility, and a host of problems.

A woman suffering from the disease can look toward the future with a mixture of hope and concern.  The hope usually springs from the fact that there are so many treatment options for the disease.  From hormone therapy to medications or natural remedies, there are many courses of action to follow when combating the disease.  There are also a number of surgical procedures that can be performed.  The right type of treatment depends on the severity of the disease.

The concern comes from the fact that, many times, treatments may be successful initially, but the disease often continues to return and progress.  Even the most drastic of interventions such as a hysterectomy can’t guarantee that the endometriosis won’t return.  The plain, simple truth is there is no real cure for the disease.  Studies have shown that three years after a hysterectomy, about 13% of affected women have recurring endometriosis.  As time progresses, the outlook is dimmer.  In fact, studies have showed that five years after a hysterectomy, about 40% of the women experience recurring symptoms of endometriosis.

If you fear you are suffering from endometriosis but have not been diagnosed, it’s important to seek medical attention.  Earlier detection can mean more affective treatment.  If you have already been diagnosed, remember not to lose hope.  Although there is a high recurrence rate, it isn’t always the case.  In fact, many women have been treated successfully and have not experienced recurrences.  Seeing a physician on a regular basis, incorporating positive dietary choices and educating yourself on the best ways to combat the disease can help lower your risk of recurrences. 

If you are interested in finding out more about Endometriosis symptoms and what you can do to reduce them please take a look at Treating Your Endometriosis for more information.