Choosing endometriosis treatments: hormones, surgery, fertility, and lifestyle.

[EleanorJ]

I was recently diagnosed with endometriosis after years of debilitating pelvic pain and irregular cycles, and my gynecologist laid out several treatment options. We're discussing everything from continuous hormonal birth control to suppress my cycle, to more invasive laparoscopic surgery for excision. For others who have navigated this, what has been your experience with these different approaches? How did you weigh the side effects of long-term hormone therapy against the potential benefits and risks of surgery? What questions should I be asking about preserving fertility, and are there complementary therapies like specific dietary changes or physical therapy that provided you with meaningful symptom relief alongside medical treatment?