Endometriosis

I have a question about endometriosis. My Dr. said I should start an estrogen hormone replacement treatment in Dec. even though I had all my reproductive female organs including my appendix removed in June.He says I can get endometriosis back. How is this possible? The research I have done shows endometriosis grows on your uterine lining. Is it possible for me to get it back without my reproductive female organs? If so will taking estrogen like Prempro help to defeat endometriosis? Right now I am taking estroven and it's working just fine. Thanks, Dolphinlover1

I have moved your thread over here to our Endometriosis Support forum where I think you will receive the best support!

We have an article about endo that you might find very helpful: Endometriosis – Can it return after a hyst?

Endometriosis is endometrial cells that have made their way outside of the uterus and implanted in various places in the abdominal and pelvic cavity. When a hysterectomy is done for those of us with endo, as much endo as possible is removed at the time of surgery. However, endo can be microscopic and go undetected. That undetected endo can then grow and spread after a hysterectomy, especially if one takes estrogen replacement therapy. However, avoiding ERT does not necessarily dictate that any left behind endo won't grow as endo has been known to make its own supply of estrogen, estrogen can be stored in our fat cells and linger for awhile, plant estrogen (such as in soy and black cohosh) is believed to be a possible fuel for endo, and our bodies can continue to make estrogen by converting dietary cholesterol to progesterone, then to testosterone and then on to estrogen.

Since estrogen feeds endometriosis, some doctors do withhold HRT from their endometriosis patients after a hyst and BSO for a space of time in hopes that any remaining endo will die off or dry up. When HRT is given, often progesterone is given along with the estrogen to help keep the estrogen from feeding any of the left behind endo.

Prempro is a combination of estrogen and progestin (a synthetic form of progesterone). I am assuming your doctor is suggesting this form of HRT starting in December as it will give you the estrogen your body needs for your overall health but also provide progestin to help prevent the estrogen from feeding any remaining endo. And he is having you wait six months in hopes that any endo that was missed might dry up before starting HRT.

The estroven you are using now may be helping with any menopause symptoms you have, but it is not estrogen. Therefore, it is not helping with the health of your heart, bones, eyes, skin, etc. You will want to talk to your doctor(s) about what estrogen does for your body and whether or not you could try going without HRT even after December.

I would strongly suggest reading through our Endometriosis Resources so you can learn as much as possible about endo. The more you know, the better able you are to make the best decisions for you! I would also suggest learning all you can about what hormones do for our bodies. You will want to weigh the pros and cons of HRT for your particular circumstances to decide what is best for you. Some women with endo do choose to go without HRT, using supplements and working with their doctors to protect their heart and bones. Other women feel that HRT is a better choice for them for their overall health and choose to deal with any future endo issues if and when they arrive.

In my case, I choose to keep my ovaries as in my case we felt my own hormones were better for me than HRT and we felt that no hormones was not a good option. Thus, I deal with endo issues as they arise.

If you do not have an endometriosis specialist you may want to consider seeing one. You need a doctor who is knowledgeable regarding both endo and hormones.

Endo is nasty disease and since it is not cured by either a hyst or a BSO, some of us continue to deal with endo issues even after our hyst. We each have to learn what works for us and our particular situation and decide what the best treatment options are for us.

I wish you the very best and I hope you find support and information here on the site that is helpful! s

My doctor is holding off 6 months after my complete b/c he says estrogen feeds endo and it can grow on other organs that can't be removed. Question, did they just happen to take your appendix out while you were in there or did you have problems after??