Expert: Brigid Kowalczyk - 7/29/2006

Question
  I saw on the bottom of one of your questions that if someone is using bcp's for endometriosis that is only treating the symptoms not the disease. This is not true because after you have the endometriosis surgically removed if you do nothing your endometriosis will come back if you take continous bcp's and stop your period it will slow the growth of endo. I have to say that bcp's have changed my life I am almost pain free as I suffered from severe daily abdominal pain for 6 years and went through many surgeries to remove the endo the only thing that has slowed the growth is low estrogen bcp's to stop my period. Your statement about bcp's for endometriosis is false it is only in your opinion ask anyone with endo if they would rather be in pain every day in the hospital all of the time or take a pill once a day. So my question is to you where did you get that info not from any doctor or patient with endo. You should not put your opinion in just the proven facts. if you cannot do that mabye you should not answer people's questions.

Answer
I'm glad you found a successful treatment for your problem.  I admit I don't know much about endometriousis and if you think I've given bad advice, I'm sorry.  I have read many things and as in most areas of medicine, law, science, social studies, etc. there are conflicing view points.  We each pick the view point we consider the most reasonable as no one is unbiased.  

I do not get many questions about endometriousis so I have not given much advice about it and as a general rule, if I don't know a lot about something I tend to give vague or non-advice.  I would much rather people consult a physician when they have a problem that causes such acute pain and suffering.  I am not a doctor.  

I'm still not sure that BCP's are the best or only treatment for your condition but in the future I will refrain from directing anyone away from it, as your experience has convinced me that there may be a solution for some people in that direction.  Thank you for your input.