A few questions.........

I'm just recovering from my 10th round of surgery and wondering what my options are next. I've tried a lot of the hormone treatments without any success in the past but my consultant is suggesting that I try them again and I'm confused.

Has anyone actually had any real success from Provera?

Can anyone share their experience of whether a hysterectomy cures symptoms?

Thanks x

[Impatient]

Hysterectomy will cure Adenomyosis by taking it all out of the body.

It doesn't cure Endometriosis in the slightest as endo by definition is anywhere but the uterus.

So unless you had all the existing endometriosis removed at the same time as the hysterectomy then you're still going to have endo, and withere the ovaries, or the HRT or the adrenal glands or tummy fat are quite capable of producing enough oestrogen to keep that endo active wherever it is located.

Nor does a hysterectomy solve the problem of adhesions and scarring which can be equally as painful as endo can be. Every surgery you have will increase the amount of surgical scarring and adhesions and they can overtake the tummy become as much of not more of a problem than the endo is.

If your pains are still at their worst during a period, then yes it is certainly a great idea to stop your periods by whatever means you can.

Depo-Provera is one option, depending on how long you have been on that previously and how many sessions of GnRH drugs you have been on, a careful monitoring of your bone density is essential with a DEXA scan to check the spine and pelvis and skull and ribs for how thin they are getting.

Safer options in terms of bone density loss are

Mirena Coil up to 5 years of stopping or considerably reducing bleeds

Skyla Coil up to 3 years ditto

Arm implant Nexplanon up to 3 years ditto

Back to Back BC pills will reduce the number of periods each year from 13 down to 3 or 4.

All don't impact too much on your bone strength.

Remember none of these methods kills or cures endo, they are all about ways to not have periods and not be in a monthly cycle of pains. They help prevent the potential of existing endo to bleed and spread. None of them have any impact on the discomfort caused by scarring and adhesions.

You might also benefit from a visit to a pain clinic to find a host of other skills and ways to better handle the pains aside from just knocking back the pain killers.