In a report published in Fertility and Sterility, December 2007, research has found that women receiving hormone suppression and diet therapy alongside conservative surgical treatment can relieve pain more effectively.

Dr. Francesco Sesti, Tor Vergata University Hospital, Rome, Italy, and her colleagues performed a trial where 6 months hormone suppression treatment and diet therapy were used to relieve pain in 222 women who had undergone conservative surgery for severe endometriosis.

Most women who receive surgery for severe endometriosis experience pain relief, however, roughly a quarter report worsening pain and around a third go on to have further surgery.

In a bid to stop the need for endless rounds of surgery Dr. Franscesco and her fellow researchers wanted to investigate the effectiveness of hormone suppression and diet therapy.

Of the group of 222 women, 110 received a placebo, 35 were given dietary supplements, including vitamins, mineral salts, lactic ferments, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids and 77 women underwent hormone suppression treatment.

All the women were treated for 6 months and at the 12 month follow up the women in the dietary supplement and hormone suppression groups reported less menstrual pain, nonmenstrual pelvic pain and pain during intercourse.

The study concluded that for women still experiencing pain after conservative surgery hormone suppression or dietary supplementation were effective treatment options.

However, further clinical trials with larger numbers of women are needed to confirm the results and to also identify the most effective kind of treatment post surgery for severe endometriosis.

In the meantime, if you have undergone surgery that hasn’t relieved you of all your symptoms have a word with your doctor to discuss the benefits of hormone suppression or visit a dietician to discuss supplementation.