Treating endometriosis without birth control

Hello My name is Pauline, I’m 22 years old and have been through surgery twice due to endometriosis, due to a cyst of 7 cm on my right ovary and small implants spread across various areas… This happened in 2014 and now it’s 2018 and after having tried several birth control methods and choosing nuvaring, in addition to taking vitamin supplements, probiotics, and changing my diet i can surely say i’m fine! it’s working for me…

But now i’m worried because nuvaring is giving me lots of side effects, including loss of sex drive, headache, fatigue, depression… Now that my endo is stabile and I found the natural remedies that actually work for me, i’m considering stopping hormones.. What do you think? I’m like a “zombie” with it…

I know i’m very young yet but at the same time i’m worried if i stop birth control endometriosis is there again and I have to go through surgery again…

Please, could someone help? Thanks!

Dear PAULINE STEWART,

My advice is that you try to change the birth control method used to treat endometriosis. Talk with your doctor to try to be prescribed one that doesn’t cause side effects on you, or that are not so severe.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for endometriosis. So, if you’ve find a method that actually works for you, don’t stop it. Endometrial implants may grow again if you stop birth control, hence the importance of changing the method if the ring causes too many side effects on you.

I hope this helps,

Best