Endometriosis

Abstract

# Emphasis on medical treatment is misleading {#article-title-2} EDITOR—In his review on endometriosis, Prentice sets out management strategies for treating painful symptoms resulting from endometriosis.1 He concludes that the first line treatment should be medical and that surgery should be reserved for cases in which medical treatment has failed or for patients with severe disease. We believe that the emphasis on medical treatment and the assertion that controversy exists over the precise role of surgery are misleading and may be responsible for physicians mismanaging their patients. The evidence from randomised controlled trials for the medical and surgical management of endometriosis has recently been reviewed.2 A critical summary of the medical management has shown that there is little difference in effectiveness of various …