When dealing with endometriosis, you’ll want to find the treatment that alleviates your symptoms. One option is hormone therapy and depending on how far your endometriosis has progressed, it might be the first one that your doctor recommends. Before you make that decision, though, you need to know what to expect.
5 Types Of Hormone Therapy
1. Gonadotropin-releasing Hormone (GnRH) Agonists
These are synthetic hormones that are designed to suppress ovulation. During your menstrual cycle, the levels of estrogen will rise and fall. This fluctuation often contributes to the continued swelling and growth of endometrial tissue outside of the uterus. However, if you suppress ovulation, changes in the abnormal tissue are less likely to happen.
The benefit of this therapy is that it’s been proven to be effective in slowing the progression of endometriosis. Many people will see an improvement in their symptoms within four to eight weeks. A few of the side effects you might have to deal with include the worsening of your symptoms for a brief period, insomnia, hot flashes, decreased bone density, and decreased libido.
2. Oral Contraceptives
Oral contraceptives or birth control pills are usually prescribed because they prevent ovulation and thin the endometrial lining. The end result is that you’ll have lighter, less painful periods. Since there’s no ovulation, you also won’t have changes in the abnormal tissue that’s outside the uterus.
The main benefit of this therapy is that you’ll have less pain and discomfort as well as lighter periods. Taking oral contraceptives can lead to headaches, nausea, increased blood pressure, and a higher risk of blood clots.
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3. Other Types Of Contraceptives
The fact that oral contraceptives must be taken at the same time every day doesn’t work for everyone. That’s where other contraceptives like the injection, implants, and intrauterine devices (IUDs) come in. They are meant to have a similar effect on endometriosis as oral contraceptives.
However, the benefits can vary from one contraceptive to the other. For example, IUDs that secrete progestin can keep estrogen levels steady and prevent the fluctuations that lead to changes in abnormal tissue outside of the uterus. If you opt for these contraceptives, you may also have to deal with spotting, weight gain, nausea, and headaches.
4. Androgenic Hormone
This hormone acts in a similar way as testosterone to prevent the release of estrogen. As with the other hormone therapy methods, controlling estrogen is an important part of alleviating the symptoms of endometriosis.
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Once on this treatment, most people no longer experience endometriosis symptoms after two months. In fact, they usually stop menstruating altogether. The drawback of this treatment, though, is that it’s not long-term and it rarely goes longer than nine months. While you’re taking this treatment, you may experience weight gain, muscle cramps, acne, and fatigue.
5. Progestogen
These are synthetic hormones that are meant to mimic progesterone. They work by retarding the growth of endometrial tissue - wherever it might be. This means that your symptoms will be less. It’s important to note that though some oral contraceptives contain progestogen, not all progestogen tablets are contraceptives.
This form of hormone therapy is usually effective as long as it’s taken on its given schedule. Some of the side effects are bloating, weight gain, irregular bleeding, and mood changes.
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How To Deal With The Side Effects
The first thing you should do when experiencing side effects is talk to your doctor. They’re the best person to tell you if you can switch to another treatment option or if there are other medications you can take to manage the side effects. With their guidance, you can also look at ways to ease them with over-the-counter medications. For example, you can get painkillers to deal with your headaches. Natural remedies like ginger can help with nausea and upset stomach.
While hormone therapy is usually the first stop in treating endometriosis, that doesn’t mean it’s free from side effects. These hormones can affect your appetite, weight, and different organs. Apart from learning how to manage the effects, you also need to know when it’s time to ask your doctor to reassess your treatment.
