I'm so sorry to hear you are suffering from endometriosis. I don't have it, but my mother had it, and two of my friends currently have it. It's not uncommon. And I recently ended up with a partial hysterectomy due to a different gynecological problem (massive fibroid), so I can sympathize.
So, I know quite a bit about the condition and treatment options. Apparently it can be mild to severe, in terms of how extensive the extrauterine tissue growth is. And the symptoms don't necessarily correlate with the the actual severity of the condition -- i.e. people with severe endometriosis can have only mild symptoms, and vice versa.
My mother's was severe. She was diagnosed as a young woman, and had years of terrible pain and hemorrhaging. She was told that, for her, the only treatment option was hysterectomy, but she resisted for many years because she held out hope that she might one day have a baby. As the doctor predicted, she was never able to get pregnant (my brother and I were adopted). By the time she had the hysterectomy, at 30, her pelvic organs were such a mess that the doctor could not save her ovaries. The premature menopause caused by surgical removal of her ovaries, along with the fact that she didn't take hormone replacement therapy (she said it made her cranky) led to advanced osteoporosis and chronic bladder problems. She's 71 now, and not in great shape.
I'm not saying this to scare you; my mom was just about the worst-case scenario! And this all happened many years ago. Surgical techniques have improved; there are new, non-surgical treatments; and they can often surgically remove some endometrial tissue without performing a hysterectomy. I think endometrial ablation, where they destroy the lining of the uterus, is an option too, although I could be wrong. However, I wanted you to tell you that story because my mom left it far too long and ended up with a much worse outcome than she might have, had she listened to her doctor earlier on. Losing your ovaries can be a BIG deal.
My one friend who has endometriosis is being treated successfully with hormones. In her case, the endometriosis is pretty extensive, but she only has minor pain and bleeding issues. The other friend's is relatively mild, and I don't think she is having any treatment for it yet.
As for the most invasive option -- hysterectomy -- you can PM me if you like and I'll tell you about my experience, and hopefully reassure you. After my mother's less-than-awesome outcome, and after reading all the HORRIFYING stuff on the internet (I'd advise ya not to do that!), I was terrified of hysterectomy. I can now say that, despite the fact that the actual surgery and early recovery is officially Not Fun, the outcome was overwhelmingly positive. I feel great, my symptoms have completely resolved and everything still works as it should! Except, of course, I will never have another baby.
