Hysterectomy—surgical removal of the uterus—is a common treatment forendometriosis. However, it’s not usually the first treatment option and may not be the final one, either.
This tissue growth can lead tosymptomsranging from mild to debilitating, including:
This article looks at the types of hysterectomies that are available, what works best for endometriosis, and what other treatment options you have.
Types of Hysterectomies
While there is no cure for this disease,hysterectomyfor endometriosis can help alleviate intolerable symptoms.
What’s most important to understand is that a hysterectomy is not a guaranteed cure for endometriosis. Multiple surgeries may be needed, and in many cases, the pain relief will not be complete.
Different types of hysterectomies are available. They include:
What Works Best for Endometriosis?
Research suggests a hysterectomy withoophorectomyrelieves endometrial pain better than a hysterectomy alone. In one study:
How Is a Hysterectomy for Endometriosis Performed?
The surgery can be done in various ways, regardless of what is removed. It can be:
Discuss the different types with your surgeon to see what’s right for you and what type of recovery to expect.
Pros and Cons of Hysterectomy for Endometriosis
If you’re considering a hysterectomy, it’s important to understand the probable outcomes and the alternatives that may be more appropriate for your specific condition.
Having a hysterectomy is a big decision with serious ramifications to consider.
The surgery itself comes with risks, as well, such as:
Your healthcare provider should go over the risks and benefits of surgery as well as alternative treatments.
ProsHysterectomy can help alleviate intolerable symptomsOophorectomy can help alleviate painConsMultiple surgeries may be neededPain relief may not be completeOophorectomy leads to permanent sterility and triggers menopause
ProsHysterectomy can help alleviate intolerable symptomsOophorectomy can help alleviate pain
Hysterectomy can help alleviate intolerable symptoms
Oophorectomy can help alleviate pain
ConsMultiple surgeries may be neededPain relief may not be completeOophorectomy leads to permanent sterility and triggers menopause
Multiple surgeries may be needed
Pain relief may not be complete
Oophorectomy leads to permanent sterility and triggers menopause
BSIP/Universal Images Group/Getty Images
Endometriosis Recurrence After Surgery
Alternatives to Hysterectomy
However desperate you may be to treat persistentendometriosis pain, hysterectomy should never be the first-line option. Instead, consider non-surgical alternatives or less invasive surgical procedures to directly treat the tissue overgrowth.
Ultimately, the choice of treatment should always be based on the severity of pain, your age and health, and whether you have plans to have a family.
In July 2018, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Orilissa (elagolix) for treating endometriosis pain. Taken once or twice daily, Orilissa has proven effective in alleviating both menstrual and non-menstrual pelvic pain and pain during sex.In August 2022, the FDA approved Myfembree (relugolix, estradiol, and norethindrone acetate) for treating moderate to severe pain associated with endometriosis. The use of both medications to treat endometriosis pain is limited to 24 months due to the risk of bone loss.
Before diagnosing andtreating endometriosis, your healthcare provider may conduct imaging tests such as an MRI or ultrasound to confirm that there are no other complicating conditions.
In most cases, healthcare providers will start with conservative treatment such as medication before trying invasive surgical treatment. Use our Healthcare Provider Discussion Guide below to start a conversation with your healthcare provider about the right treatment option for you.
Endometriosis Healthcare Provider Discussion GuideGet our printable guide for your next healthcare provider’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.Download PDFEmail AddressSign UpThank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up.There was an error. Please try again.
Get our printable guide for your next healthcare provider’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
Download PDF
Email AddressSign UpThank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up.There was an error. Please try again.
Sign Up
Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up.
There was an error. Please try again.
A Word From Verywell
It’s important to be clear with your healthcare provider about your desired goals of treatment before embarking on any treatment for endometriosis.
Your treatment may be vastly different if you want to have kids in the future versus being done having children or not wanting to ever get pregnant.
12 Natural Endometriosis Treatments
Frequently Asked Questions
You can, since endometrial tissue can grow outside of the uterus. The excess tissue needs to be removed as well. Also, residual tissues can be left behind that are susceptible to endometriosis.
It may, especially if your ovaries are removed. The loss of estrogen can contribute to:Cognitive impairment associated with ageLow bone mineral density, which can cause osteoporosis and osteoarthritisLess elastic skin, which may look olderLoss of connective tissue, which is linked to heart disease and stroke
It may, especially if your ovaries are removed. The loss of estrogen can contribute to:
9 SourcesVerywell 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 Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Endometriosis.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.FAQs: Hysterectomy.Rizk B, Fischer AS, Lotfy HA, et al.Recurrence of endometriosis after hysterectomy.Facts Views Vis Obgyn. 2014;6(4):219–227.National Institutes of Health.What are the treatments for endometriosis?Leyland N, Estes SJ, Lessey BA, Advincula AP, Taylor HS.A Clinician’s Guide to the Treatment of Endometriosis with Elagolix.J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2021 Apr;30(4):569-578. doi:10.1089/jwh.2019.8096.Food and Drug Administration.Orilissa label.Food and Drug Administration.Myfembree label.Endometriosis Foundation of America.Endometriosis after hysterectomy - Dr. Rosanne Kho.Chronic Disease Coalition.Endometriosis in America: Tips, tricks, and tribulations.
9 Sources
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 Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Endometriosis.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.FAQs: Hysterectomy.Rizk B, Fischer AS, Lotfy HA, et al.Recurrence of endometriosis after hysterectomy.Facts Views Vis Obgyn. 2014;6(4):219–227.National Institutes of Health.What are the treatments for endometriosis?Leyland N, Estes SJ, Lessey BA, Advincula AP, Taylor HS.A Clinician’s Guide to the Treatment of Endometriosis with Elagolix.J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2021 Apr;30(4):569-578. doi:10.1089/jwh.2019.8096.Food and Drug Administration.Orilissa label.Food and Drug Administration.Myfembree label.Endometriosis Foundation of America.Endometriosis after hysterectomy - Dr. Rosanne Kho.Chronic Disease Coalition.Endometriosis in America: Tips, tricks, and tribulations.
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 Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Endometriosis.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.FAQs: Hysterectomy.Rizk B, Fischer AS, Lotfy HA, et al.Recurrence of endometriosis after hysterectomy.Facts Views Vis Obgyn. 2014;6(4):219–227.National Institutes of Health.What are the treatments for endometriosis?Leyland N, Estes SJ, Lessey BA, Advincula AP, Taylor HS.A Clinician’s Guide to the Treatment of Endometriosis with Elagolix.J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2021 Apr;30(4):569-578. doi:10.1089/jwh.2019.8096.Food and Drug Administration.Orilissa label.Food and Drug Administration.Myfembree label.Endometriosis Foundation of America.Endometriosis after hysterectomy - Dr. Rosanne Kho.Chronic Disease Coalition.Endometriosis in America: Tips, tricks, and tribulations.
National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Endometriosis.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.FAQs: Hysterectomy.
Rizk B, Fischer AS, Lotfy HA, et al.Recurrence of endometriosis after hysterectomy.Facts Views Vis Obgyn. 2014;6(4):219–227.
National Institutes of Health.What are the treatments for endometriosis?
Leyland N, Estes SJ, Lessey BA, Advincula AP, Taylor HS.A Clinician’s Guide to the Treatment of Endometriosis with Elagolix.J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2021 Apr;30(4):569-578. doi:10.1089/jwh.2019.8096.
Food and Drug Administration.Orilissa label.
Food and Drug Administration.Myfembree label.
Endometriosis Foundation of America.Endometriosis after hysterectomy - Dr. Rosanne Kho.
Chronic Disease Coalition.Endometriosis in America: Tips, tricks, and tribulations.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
