Do I need to take medication for the rest of my life after surgery for endometrioma?

Chocolate cyst refers to an endometrioma. Generally, whether a patient needs to take medication for life after surgery for a chocolate cyst depends on the individual's specific condition and treatment outcomes. If the patient recovers well after surgery, lifelong medication is usually not necessary. However, if the post-surgical recovery is poor, lifelong medication may be required. Detailed explanations are as follows:

If after surgery for a chocolate cyst, the patient's endometriotic lesions are completely removed and symptoms significantly improve following a period of medical treatment, with disappearance of cyclical pain and a notable improvement in quality of life, and follow-up examinations show no signs of recurrence, then under a doctor's guidance, the patient may not require lifelong medication. However, regular follow-up checkups are still necessary to monitor any changes in the condition.

Conversely, if the patient's condition is severe and recovery after surgical removal of the chocolate cyst is suboptimal, with a high probability of recurrence, long-term or even lifelong medication may be needed to control the disease. Additionally, for older patients who have no further fertility requirements and whose condition progresses rapidly, there may be a risk of malignant transformation, making long-term medication necessary to reduce this risk.

Patients are advised to maintain a healthy lifestyle, including balanced nutrition, moderate exercise, and avoiding excessive stress, which can help stabilize and promote recovery from the condition.