What is Endometriosis?
Endometriosis is a condition in which tissue that normally exists inside the uterus grows outside of the uterus instead. This can happen on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, outside your vagina and into other parts of the body.
It can be painful and sometimes debilitating condition that affects roughly 14% of women worldwide. The prevalence of endometriosis in women with infertility is as high as 30–50%. Although there are currently no approved medications to treat this condition, acupuncture can be an effective treatment option for some women who have been diagnosed with endometriosis.
Symptoms of Endometriosis
There are some common areas where you may notice symptoms if you have endometriosis:
Your lower abdomen (tummy).
The lining of this area becomes thicker and more painful than normal during menstruation. This causes cramping and heavy bleeding for many women.
Your pelvis area around your pubic bone or tailbone (perineum).
It is common for this part to become tender when you’ve had intercourse or sit down too long while pregnant.
Conventional Treatment for Endometriosis
The most common treatments for endometriosis are hormonal treatments like GnRH agonists and oral contraceptives. A majority of the evidence that supports hormonal treatments are mostly observational, which means that the experts studied what can be observed about the effects of such treatment to endometriosis.
Acupuncture for Endometriosis
Acupuncture has been promoted as a natural and noninvasive approach that can complement other treatments.
Reduced Pain
Acupuncture can increase your pain tolerance by increasing the release of endorphins, which are natural pain relievers. Some studies suggest that acupuncture also affects dopamine and serotonin levels. These are the hormones in your body that help you experience pleasure.
Decreased Inflammation
Acupuncture was found by a study to reduce the blood marker that is known to be associated with high levels of inflammation most observably increased in those who have endometriosis.
Decreased Cellular Estrogen Levels
Another study reported that acupuncture may alleviate the pain experienced by those who have endometriosis by suppressing serum estradiol (a type of estrogen). This hormone is normally elevated in endometriosis cells. Estrogen stimulates endometriosis tissue growth. The suppression of such hormones using acupuncture may help decrease the pain.
Improved Immune Function
Acupuncture enhances your immune system by stimulating your immune response. Acupuncture increases the production of white blood cells, which are known to fight foreign bodies that cause disease. White blood cells can help decrease endometriosis lesions. Endometriosis is associated with immune dysfunction. Helping your immune system alleviates the symptoms of endometriosis.
Herbs
I have also combined herbal remedies with acupuncture to help reduce the actual endometriosis tissue. Many of my patients get relief from regular acupuncture treatments and have reduced or no symptoms of their endometriosis.
Acupuncture is an option that can be used in conjunction with other therapies such as hormone therapy, herbal remedies, or surgery to ease the symptoms of endometriosis. It improves your quality of life while using a non-invasive procedure. Acupuncture has been shown to help women suffering from endometriosis feel less pain during their menstrual cycle. It may also decrease your chances of experiencing side effects from hormonal treatments. It is important to take note that acupuncture is not always a direct cure, but can certainly reduce pain, excessive bleeding, and overall symptoms. And this makes your life better.
If you’d like to know more about how acupuncture or herbs can specifically help you, let’s have a chat. Schedule a free chat with me at this link. Book a call with me
