[Helio] Study shows impact of endometriosis on women’s work ability

New study shows that women with endometriosis have significant work reduction due to symptoms in “Middle Age.” I’m not sure we needed a formal study to show this concept but it certainly highlights a huge problem for our endometriosis (adenomyosis) patients from ages 38 to 45 or so.  This is a time when most people are in their prime of their careers, yet for these women, they are struggling to simply exist.  It’s sad, but many patients wait until the latter part of this timeframe to seek help.  It’s our belief that the vast majority of pain after age 30 is due to adenomyosis.  If patients are finished with childbearing, hysterectomy is by far the best treatment and if fertility is still somewhat of a desire, an adenomyomectomy is a very effective way to decrease pain and bleeding.  Treatment of endometriosis in this age range often makes very little difference in the pain.  In adenomyomectomy, we open the uterus in outpatient surgery and remove a large part of the muscle where the adenomyosis resides (probably 60-70%).  This dramatically reduces inflammation and pain.  As a great alternative to hysterectomy, we have been utilized this procedure extensively over that past two years.  Unfortunately this is not long enough to have a great feel for fertility with the procedure.  Studies from Asia where it has been widely used for years to treat infertility, show great post surgical pregnancy success.  Endometriosis, pelvic pain patients should keep this in mind as a great alternative to reduce pain and bleeding at a younger age and continue their productive lives.