Endometriosis

Article Written by Phillip Davis August 13, 2013

The disorder or disease, endometriosis, affects over 5 million women in North America alone and 30 to 40 percent of these women are infertile, making endometriosis one of the top three causes for female infertility (Cleveland Clinic, 1995-2013).  Let’s look into this disorder and see exactly what it is, what are its symptoms, who gets it, and what types of treatments and or alternatives are available.

What is Endometriosis

The word endometriosis comes from the word endometrium where “endo” means “inside” and “metrium” means “mother”.  Endometriosis occurs when the tissue like that of the tissue which lines the inside of the uterus grows outside of the uterus.  This growth usually happens on the surface of organs in the pelvic and abdominal areas such as the ovaries, behind the uterus, on the tissues that hold the uterus in place, on the bowels or bladder, and in extremely rare cases, endometriosis can grow in the lungs or other parts of the body (Cleveland Clinic, 1995-2013).

Symptoms of Endometriosis

The most common symptom of endometriosis is pain in the abdominal, lower back, and pelvic areas.  The amount of pain a woman has from endometriosis is not linked to the extensiveness of the endometriosis, i.e. the size or how much endometriosis she has.  As a matter of fact, some women have no pain at all.  On the hand, some women suffer sever pain, even though they may have only a few small areas of endometriosis (Cleveland Clinic, 1995-2013).

Some general symptoms of endometriosis may include (but are not limited to):

• Extremely painful (or disabling) menstrual cramps; pain may get worse over time
• Chronic pelvic pain (includes lower back pain and pelvic pain)
• Pain during or after sex
• Intestinal pain
• Painful bowel movements or painful urination during menstrual periods
• Heavy menstrual periods
• Premenstrual spotting or bleeding between periods
• Infertility

Who Gets Endometriosis

Endometriosis can affect any menstruating woman from the time of her first period until menopause.  Naturally, endometriosis can also continue after menopause, or if hormones are taken for menopausal symptoms, symptoms of endometriosis can too continue.

 Traditional Treatments

Unfortunately, there are currently no cures for endometriosis.  Even having a hysterectomy or removing the ovaries does not guarantee that endometriosis or the symptoms of endometriosis will not come back (Cleveland Clinic, 1995-2013).  However, there are a number of conventional treatments for treating endometriosis.  They are:

• Pain medication — Works well if your pain or other symptoms are mild.  These medications range from over-the-counter remedies to strong prescription drugs.

• Hormone therapy — Is effective if your areas are small and/or you have minimal pain.  Hormones can come in pill form, by shot or injection, or in a nasal spray. Common hormones used to treat endometriosis pain are progesterone, birth control pills, danocrine, and gonadatropin-releasing hormone (GnRH).
• Surgical treatment — Is usually the best choice if your endometriosis is extensive, or if you have more severe pain.  Surgical treatments range from minor to major surgical procedures (Cleveland Clinic, 1995-2013).

Alternative Methods

In contrast, and sometimes, in addition to conventional treatments, there are also alternative methods that can be taken in combating endometriosis.  A few are listed below:

• Diet and Nutrition – Eating a healthful diet of low refined carbohydrates and limiting caffeine, sugar, preservatives, additives, red meats and processed foods has been helpful in several patients.  Anecdotally, there is evidence that certain diets promoting anti-inflammatory healing properties can promote hormonal balance and reduce symptoms.  This dietary approach can also address candida and food allergies that many women suffering from endometriosis experience.
• Acupuncture – Acupuncture brings relief by restoring the body’s natural flow of energy and balance.  Researchers have also found that acupuncture releases endorphins, a natural pain-killer that is produced by the body.
•  Exercise – Because exercise stimulates the release of endorphins, it is a demonstrated stress reliever, pain reducer, and depression fighter.
• Chiropractic Treatment – Chiropractors can relieve pain by correcting dislocations (subluxations) in the musculoskeletal system.  It has beneficial effects on the immune system, which has been long thought to be the basis of endometriosis.

Here at Natural Healing Center of Myrtle Beach, we offer you alternatives such as diet and nutrition coaching, acupuncture, chiropractic care, advice and coaching on proper exercise, resonant therapy/high frequency therapy, and more, to fight off this disease.  Contact our clinic for more information on how we may help.  (843)-839-9996

Reference:

Cleveland Clinic (1995-2013).  Retrieved August 12, 2013 from http://my.clevelandclinic.org/disorders/endometriosis/hic_facts_about_endometriosis.aspx

Dr. Oz (2011).  Retrieved August 13, 2013 from http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/alternative-therapies-endometriosis