Win Your Endometriosis Battle With This 7-Step Checklist
You’ve just been diagnosed with endometriosis. You’re scared and anxious. You have so many questions.
What should I expect?
Is there a cure?
Will my symptoms get worse?
What type of medical professional is best qualified to help?
Getting your questions answered empowers you to take control of your health care and find the relief you deserve.
What is endometriosis?
The tissue that lines the inside of your uterus is now growing outside of your uterus. And what does that tissue do each month? It breaks down and bleeds with every menstrual cycle.
Since this tissue isn’t inside your uterus, it doesn’t have a way to exit your body. The surrounding organs and tissues get irritated, can develop cysts, scar tissue, and even get stuck together. That’s why it’s so painful.¹
Where can endometrial tissue grow?
Bladder
Intestines
Vulva
Ovaries
Fallopian tubes
Pelvic cavity
Space between the uterus and other organs
Ligaments attached to the uterus
Scars from previous surgeries
What causes endometriosis?
There are several theories about what causes endometriosis. Some researchers believe during menstruation, some blood travels backward through your fallopian tubes. Instead of exiting the body, it empties into your abdomen.
Other experts believe that this tissue acts like cancer cells and travels through blood or lymph systems. Another theory suggests that tissue anywhere in the body can simply transform into endometrial cells.
These endometrial cells can also be transplanted during a surgical procedure like a cesarean section. Also, some people are genetically predisposed to having this type of health issue.
A few risk factors that your doctor may check for are having a close relative with the disease, giving birth to your first child after 30, or having abnormalities in your uterus.
How endometriosis is diagnosed
Just getting an accurate diagnosis is a win in itself. Many people struggle with endometriosis symptoms for a long time and see several different healthcare professionals before pinpointing the exact cause of their pain.
The first step is having a frank discussion with your doctor. They’ll take a detailed medical history and perform a pelvic exam. Unlike many other causes of pelvic pain, there are specific tests to determine if you have endometriosis and how severe it is.
Your doctor may recommend using diagnostic tests such as an ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI imaging. These are all non-invasive ways to get a clearer picture of what’s going on and develop a treatment plan.
Although these images are helpful, the most effective way to get a definitive diagnosis is with a biopsy. Your doctor will perform a laparoscopy. This is a minor surgery where a small tube with a camera is inserted in your abdomen. This camera gives your medical team valuable information about the location and size of any abnormal tissue growth.
Once samples of this tissue have been taken, a quick look under the microscope will confirm the diagnosis.
Common endometriosis symptoms
Every person is different, but these are some of the most common symptoms that endometriosis patients experience:
Painful menstrual cramps
Painful urination or bowel movements during your period
Pain during or after sex
GI symptoms like nausea, constipation, or diarrhea
Heavier than normal menstrual periods
Infertility
We all experience pain differently, so your level of pain may not be directly related to how advanced the disease is. It’s possible for someone with a mild case to experience severe pain and complications. But it’s also possible for someone to have very advanced and widespread endometriosis and experience little to no pain. That’s why working closely with healthcare professionals is so important.
Endometriosis and fertility
Scientists and researchers don’t fully understand how endometriosis affects fertility. But endometriosis is a leading cause of infertility in women and uterus owners. Up to half of all women experiencing infertility have endometriosis.
For most patients, infertility is temporary. Treatment can not only improve pain symptoms, but it can also greatly increase the odds of getting pregnant. But for a small percentage of endometriosis patients, infertility is permanent.
Is endometriosis surgery the only option?
Not at all. What treatment option you choose depends on several factors. Your doctor will take into account things like:
The extent of the disease
Your medical history and general health
The severity of your symptoms
Your thoughts on family planning
If your symptoms are relatively mild, your doctor may simply recommend over-the-counter pain medication as they monitor the disease and its progression. If OTC meds aren’t enough to manage your symptoms, hormone therapy may be a good option for you. There are several different types of synthetic hormones that can go a long way to relieving your symptoms.
If you’ve tried medication and still struggle with endometriosis symptoms, your doctor may recommend surgery. Laparoscopy is first used to diagnose the disease. Then laparotomy surgery would remove the tissue that’s causing your pain. If it is advanced or widespread, you may consider having a hysterectomy to remove the uterus and/or ovaries.²
Natural remedies for endometriosis pain
Many endometriosis patients don’t opt for pain medication, hormone therapy, or surgery. Even if your treatment plan includes some or all of these, you may wonder what else you can do to relieve your symptoms.
The great news is that there are several relatively simple things you can do to relieve your pain:
Take warm and relaxing baths
Use a heating pad or hot water bottle
Improve the quantity and quality of your sleep
Exercise regularly
You may also find helpful symptom relief working with a:
Nutritionist to control GI symptoms
Homeopathist
Chinese medicine expert
Immunologist
Allergist
Sex therapist
Most health issues require a multi-faceted approach to get maximum symptom relief. And endometriosis is no different. You may have to consult with several different specialists to put together a winning treatment plan. It’s important that all providers be aware of what other treatments you’re pursuing. That way you lower the risk of one treatment working against the benefits of another.
Working with an experienced sex therapist can greatly speed up your treatment. I’ve helped many people just like you understand the mind-body connection and learn techniques to manage and lessen their pain. And I’d love to help you too. If you’re ready to take control of your endometriosis treatment, let’s get the conversation started.
