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Frequently asked questions

Why is the pill a treatment for endometriosis when it contains oestrogen which makes endometriosis worse?

The pill is a treatment because it is a mixture of hormones, oestrogen and progestagen which inhibit the growth of endometrium every month and therefore will inhibit endometriosis cells in the same way. The pill can be taken continuously to prevent periods, or for three weeks out of four with a ‘withdrawal bleed’ (fake period) in between. This fools the body into thinking it is pregnant and should alleviate symptoms whilst it is being taken. Even when the withdrawal bleeds take place, the levels of hormones that contribute to the pain (prostaglandins) are lower and the pain is therefore reduced.


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