Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsGoal of MedicationMedication OptionsAntibioticsSecondary Endo TreatmentAlternative MedicationsDoes Medication Help?Benefits vs. RisksWhen Medication Doesn’t Work
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Goal of Medication
Medication Options
Antibiotics
Secondary Endo Treatment
Alternative Medications
Does Medication Help?
Benefits vs. Risks
When Medication Doesn’t Work
Endometriosis occurs when tissue similar to that which normally lines the uterus grows outside the uterus.There is no cure for endometriosis. However, symptoms can be managed with medication.
This article covers which symptoms endometriosis medications target, the types of endometriosis medications, alternative endometriosis medications, the benefits and risks of these medications, and what to do if endometriosis medications don’t work for you.
ljubaphoto / Getty Images
What Is the Goal of Endometriosis Medication?
The goal of endometriosis medication is to stop or minimize symptoms so they don’t interfere with daily life. Symptoms of endometriosis can include:
Endometriosis Medication Options
Endometriosis treatment can include pain medication and hormone therapy. Antibiotics have also shown some promise in recent studies.
Pain Medication
Pain medications for endometriosis are more likely to be effective if other symptoms (like bleeding) are mild.These include:
Research indicates that endometriosis patients could be at risk for addiction if pain is managed with opioids. Your body can build a tolerance to the drugs, which can lead to taking higher doses over time. This can increase your risk of addiction. It’s advised to take opioids sparingly when managing pain.
Hormone TherapyHormone therapy can help with symptoms of endometriosis while reducing inflammation and endo lesions.Options for hormone therapy include:Oral contraceptives(birth control pills): It’s advised that people at risk of heart disease take progestin-only birth control.Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) medications: These drugs slowovulation(when the ovaries release eggs) and even cause amenopause-like state.Progesterone and progestin: These drugs reduce or stop periods while preventing pregnancy.Danazol:This androgenic hormone limits or eliminates periods.
Hormone Therapy
Hormone therapy can help with symptoms of endometriosis while reducing inflammation and endo lesions.Options for hormone therapy include:Oral contraceptives(birth control pills): It’s advised that people at risk of heart disease take progestin-only birth control.Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) medications: These drugs slowovulation(when the ovaries release eggs) and even cause amenopause-like state.Progesterone and progestin: These drugs reduce or stop periods while preventing pregnancy.Danazol:This androgenic hormone limits or eliminates periods.
Hormone therapy can help with symptoms of endometriosis while reducing inflammation and endo lesions.Options for hormone therapy include:
Oral Contraceptives (Birth Control Pills)
For endometriosis, birth control pills can do the following:
Birth control usually contains the hormones estrogen and progestin. If you’re at risk for heart disease or blood clots, you may be precribed theprogestin-only pill (the minipill).
Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH)
GnRH can be takenas a nasal spray or as an injection every month or every three months. GnRH pills are normally taken for six months at a time, with breaks of several months in between.
GnRH medications can:
Progesterone and Progestin
Progesterone and progestin can be taken orally, as an injection, or through anintrauterine device (IUD). Progestin injections might not stop all period bleeding, and irregular periods can occur.
Progesterone and progestin can:
While pregnancy risk is lowered while taking progesterone, it’s advised to continuetaking precautionsif someone does not want to get pregnant.
Danazol
Danazol usually is taken as a capsule twice daily.
Danazol can:
Medications for Secondary Endo Conditions
Secondary endo conditions can also be managed with medication. These include the following:
Pain Medications
The following could help with endometriosis-related pelvic pain:
Medications for Mood
More than two-thirds of women with endometriosis also experience some form of psychological stress, including anxiety and/or depression. Reasons for endometriosis-related stress include continuous pain, difficulty getting a diagnosis because ofmisconceptions about menstruation pain, stigma about fertility issues, losing workdays, cost of treatment, and social isolation.
To treat depression related to endometriosis, a healthcare professional might recommend:
Diuretics and Antihistamines
Alternative Endometriosis Medications
Research indicates people could manage endometriosis and premenstrual (PMS) symptoms withalternative medications. Before trying alternative therapies, speak to a healthcare professional or pharmacist about potential drug interactions.
OTC Alternatives
Medications include:
Vitamin Supplements
Vitamin supplements that can help manage symptoms include:
Herbal Supplements
Some herbal supplements that have been found to be possibly helpful to endometriosis patients include:
Herbs
Several studies have indicatedtraditional Chinese medicine herbsmay help with endometriosis symptoms. Some combinations that have shown promise include:
Endometriosis Medication Costs and Affordability
Costs could keep someone from sticking to endometriosis treatment long-term. When choosing a medication, it’s advised to consider:
Ways to manage costs might include:
Does Endometriosis Go Away With Medication?
Endometriosis has no cure. The goal of treatment is to manage symptoms so they don’t interfere with daily life.
Weighing the Benefits vs. Risks of Endometriosis Medication
The benefits of endometriosis medication include:
Risks of endometriosis medications include:
Some things to consider when weighing benefits and risks of endometriosis might include:
Who Can Prescribe Endometriosis Medications?When seeking endometriosis treatment, it’s advised to see a healthcare provider who specializes in women’s health care (gynecology). In some states, pharmacists can prescribe birth control and some pain medications (usually at low or limited doses and/or in case of emergency).A pharmacist might also be able to work with your healthcare provider on a care plan that could give the pharmacist prescribing authority, depending on your medication and location. Speak to your pharmacist for more information.
Who Can Prescribe Endometriosis Medications?
When seeking endometriosis treatment, it’s advised to see a healthcare provider who specializes in women’s health care (gynecology). In some states, pharmacists can prescribe birth control and some pain medications (usually at low or limited doses and/or in case of emergency).A pharmacist might also be able to work with your healthcare provider on a care plan that could give the pharmacist prescribing authority, depending on your medication and location. Speak to your pharmacist for more information.
Endometriosis Medication Isn’t Working: Next Steps
If endometriosis medication doesn’t seem to work, it might be time to consider surgical options.
Laparoscopy/Laparotomy
Endo lesions can reappear within five years after a laparotomy in about 20% of patients, and 1% of patients might experience complications, including organ infection or heavy bleeding. Fertility can improve after a laparotomy.
Hysterectomy
A hysterectomy is a complete removal of the uterus. Hysterectomies are usually a last-resort option used when other treatments have failed to improve quality of life and in patients who have decided not to have children.
Endometriosis symptoms can return if a hysterectomy doesn’t include removing the ovaries, where hormones are produced. However, removing ovaries can mean startingmenopauseearly. Treating menopause symptoms can require taking estrogen, which can cause endometriosis symptoms to return. Most women who undergo a hysterectomy choose to keep their ovaries. About 5% of those who undergo a hysterectomy can experience complications like organ damage or infection.
Summary
Endometriosis has no cure, but its symptoms can be managed with medication. These symptoms include heavy bleeding, intense or long-term pain, bloating, nausea, depression, and anxiety.
Surgery to remove lesions or the uterus itself might be preferred if medications don’t heal endometriosis symptoms. Surgery does not guarantee endometriosis symptoms will disappear.
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Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Cancer Institute.Ovary.NHS.Endometriosis.MedlinePlus.Endometriosis.National Cancer Institute.Uterus.World Health Organization.Endometriosis.EndometriosisUK.Pain relief for endometriosis.National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.What are the treatments for endometriosis?Ellis K, Munro D, Clarke J.Endometriosis is undervalued: A call to action.Front Glob Womens Health. 2022;3. doi:10.3389/fgwh.2022.902371Vannuccini S, Clemenza S, Rossi M, Petraglia F.Hormonal treatments for endometriosis: The endocrine background.Rev Endocr Metab Disord. 2022;23(3):333-355. doi:10.1007/s11154-021-09666-wBetter Health Channel.Ovulation and fertility.MedlinePlus.Danazol.Chadchan SB, Cheng M, Parnell LA, et al.Antibiotic therapy with metronidazole reduces endometriosis disease progression in mice: A potential role for gut microbiota.Hum Reprod. 2019;34(6):1106-1116. doi:10.1093/humrep/dez041Brigham and Women’s Hospital.Endometriosis: Pain management for adult women.Laganà AS, La Rosa VL, Rapisarda AMC, et al.Anxiety and depression in patients with endometriosis: impact and management challenges.Int J Womens Health. 2017;9:323-330. Published 2017 May 16. doi:10.2147/IJWH.S119729MedlinePlus.Premenstrual syndrome.Arumugham VB, Shahin MH.Therapeutic uses of diuretic agents. In: StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2023.MedlinePlus.Dimenhydrinate.Louie KD.Calcium carbonate for premenstrual syndrome.Can Fam Physician. 2002;48:705-707.Yalçın Bahat P, Ayhan I, Üreyen Özdemir E, İnceboz Ü, Oral E.Dietary supplements for treatment of endometriosis: A review. Acta Biomed. 2022;93(1):e2022159. Published 2022 Mar 14. doi:10.23750/abm.v93i1.11237Akyol A, Şimşek M, İlhan R, et al.Efficacies of vitamin D and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on experimental endometriosis.Taiwanese Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2016;55(6):835-839. doi:10.1016/j.tjog.2015.06.018Office on Women’s Health.Premenstrual syndrome (PMS).Fang RC, Tsai YT, Lai JN, Yeh CH, Wu CT.The traditional chinese medicine prescription pattern of endometriosis patients in Taiwan: A population-based study.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2012;2012:591391. doi:10.1155/2012/591391Barbara G, Buggio L, Facchin F, Vercellini P.Medical treatment for endometriosis: Tolerability, quality of life and adherence.Front Glob Womens Health. 2021;2:729601. Published 2021 Sep 27. doi:10.3389/fgwh.2021.729601Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG).Treatment Options for Endometriosis. 2017.ASHP.Pharmacists can now prescribe hormonal birth control in 20 states.Steed E.Why aren’t pharmacists included as prescribers in the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act?Can Pharm J (Ott). 2012;145(4):163-164. doi:10.3821/145.4.cpj163MedlinePlus.Laparoscopy.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Cancer Institute.Ovary.NHS.Endometriosis.MedlinePlus.Endometriosis.National Cancer Institute.Uterus.World Health Organization.Endometriosis.EndometriosisUK.Pain relief for endometriosis.National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.What are the treatments for endometriosis?Ellis K, Munro D, Clarke J.Endometriosis is undervalued: A call to action.Front Glob Womens Health. 2022;3. doi:10.3389/fgwh.2022.902371Vannuccini S, Clemenza S, Rossi M, Petraglia F.Hormonal treatments for endometriosis: The endocrine background.Rev Endocr Metab Disord. 2022;23(3):333-355. doi:10.1007/s11154-021-09666-wBetter Health Channel.Ovulation and fertility.MedlinePlus.Danazol.Chadchan SB, Cheng M, Parnell LA, et al.Antibiotic therapy with metronidazole reduces endometriosis disease progression in mice: A potential role for gut microbiota.Hum Reprod. 2019;34(6):1106-1116. doi:10.1093/humrep/dez041Brigham and Women’s Hospital.Endometriosis: Pain management for adult women.Laganà AS, La Rosa VL, Rapisarda AMC, et al.Anxiety and depression in patients with endometriosis: impact and management challenges.Int J Womens Health. 2017;9:323-330. Published 2017 May 16. doi:10.2147/IJWH.S119729MedlinePlus.Premenstrual syndrome.Arumugham VB, Shahin MH.Therapeutic uses of diuretic agents. In: StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2023.MedlinePlus.Dimenhydrinate.Louie KD.Calcium carbonate for premenstrual syndrome.Can Fam Physician. 2002;48:705-707.Yalçın Bahat P, Ayhan I, Üreyen Özdemir E, İnceboz Ü, Oral E.Dietary supplements for treatment of endometriosis: A review. Acta Biomed. 2022;93(1):e2022159. Published 2022 Mar 14. doi:10.23750/abm.v93i1.11237Akyol A, Şimşek M, İlhan R, et al.Efficacies of vitamin D and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on experimental endometriosis.Taiwanese Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2016;55(6):835-839. doi:10.1016/j.tjog.2015.06.018Office on Women’s Health.Premenstrual syndrome (PMS).Fang RC, Tsai YT, Lai JN, Yeh CH, Wu CT.The traditional chinese medicine prescription pattern of endometriosis patients in Taiwan: A population-based study.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2012;2012:591391. doi:10.1155/2012/591391Barbara G, Buggio L, Facchin F, Vercellini P.Medical treatment for endometriosis: Tolerability, quality of life and adherence.Front Glob Womens Health. 2021;2:729601. Published 2021 Sep 27. doi:10.3389/fgwh.2021.729601Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG).Treatment Options for Endometriosis. 2017.ASHP.Pharmacists can now prescribe hormonal birth control in 20 states.Steed E.Why aren’t pharmacists included as prescribers in the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act?Can Pharm J (Ott). 2012;145(4):163-164. doi:10.3821/145.4.cpj163MedlinePlus.Laparoscopy.
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Vannuccini S, Clemenza S, Rossi M, Petraglia F.Hormonal treatments for endometriosis: The endocrine background.Rev Endocr Metab Disord. 2022;23(3):333-355. doi:10.1007/s11154-021-09666-w
Better Health Channel.Ovulation and fertility.
MedlinePlus.Danazol.
Chadchan SB, Cheng M, Parnell LA, et al.Antibiotic therapy with metronidazole reduces endometriosis disease progression in mice: A potential role for gut microbiota.Hum Reprod. 2019;34(6):1106-1116. doi:10.1093/humrep/dez041
Brigham and Women’s Hospital.Endometriosis: Pain management for adult women.
Laganà AS, La Rosa VL, Rapisarda AMC, et al.Anxiety and depression in patients with endometriosis: impact and management challenges.Int J Womens Health. 2017;9:323-330. Published 2017 May 16. doi:10.2147/IJWH.S119729
MedlinePlus.Premenstrual syndrome.
Arumugham VB, Shahin MH.Therapeutic uses of diuretic agents. In: StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2023.
MedlinePlus.Dimenhydrinate.
Louie KD.Calcium carbonate for premenstrual syndrome.Can Fam Physician. 2002;48:705-707.
Yalçın Bahat P, Ayhan I, Üreyen Özdemir E, İnceboz Ü, Oral E.Dietary supplements for treatment of endometriosis: A review. Acta Biomed. 2022;93(1):e2022159. Published 2022 Mar 14. doi:10.23750/abm.v93i1.11237
Akyol A, Şimşek M, İlhan R, et al.Efficacies of vitamin D and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on experimental endometriosis.Taiwanese Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2016;55(6):835-839. doi:10.1016/j.tjog.2015.06.018
Office on Women’s Health.Premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
Fang RC, Tsai YT, Lai JN, Yeh CH, Wu CT.The traditional chinese medicine prescription pattern of endometriosis patients in Taiwan: A population-based study.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2012;2012:591391. doi:10.1155/2012/591391
Barbara G, Buggio L, Facchin F, Vercellini P.Medical treatment for endometriosis: Tolerability, quality of life and adherence.Front Glob Womens Health. 2021;2:729601. Published 2021 Sep 27. doi:10.3389/fgwh.2021.729601
Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG).Treatment Options for Endometriosis. 2017.
ASHP.Pharmacists can now prescribe hormonal birth control in 20 states.
Steed E.Why aren’t pharmacists included as prescribers in the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act?Can Pharm J (Ott). 2012;145(4):163-164. doi:10.3821/145.4.cpj163
MedlinePlus.Laparoscopy.
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