Did you know that March is an Endometriosis awareness month?
For those of you who are fortunate enough not to belong to the women who suffer from it, I’m going to include a brief introduction.
So… what actually is Endometriosis?
Endometriosis is usually considered as a chronic illness. It happens when the inner lining of your uterus (endometrium) starts growing outside of its bounds. It can spread to the fallopian tubes and ovaries, grow its way into the peritoneum, bladder, bowels and even go as far as lungs!
The cells which are lining the uterus are responding to fluctuations in the levels of oestrogen, building themselves up when it’s at its peak and dying off when it drops lower- that’s when we experience the menstrual flow.
The problem occurs when the cells creating the lining spread and then break down in places which don’t enable for them to become expelled as they normally would during the monthly period. Because of that, the pooling blood needs to be reabsorbed back by the surrounding tissue which is a much slower process.
Since we all experience rise and fall in hormonal levels every month, the endometrial ‘implants’ can become increasingly bigger, even turning into scar tissue which can bind internal organs together.
Why does it happen? Nobody really knows… but Endometriosis has been linked to hereditary tendencies as well as exposure to chlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and dioxin, so there is a potential element of toxic exposure and its buildup within the body.
What are the symptoms of endometriosis?
In short: PAIN. Depending on the areas affected by endometriosis, it can include:
- Pain and bleeding during bowel movements
- Pain and bleeding during urination
- Pain in abdominal area
- Pain in lower back
- Pain during intercourse
- Pain during menstruation- when the endometrium is breaking off causing pooling of blood in the affected cavities
- Pain during first 2 weeks of the cycle- when the endometrium is building up
As well as:
- Nausea, diarrhea or constipation
- Formation of blood-filled cysts, most commonly on the ovaries
- Problems becoming pregnant- 30-40% of infertility cases are due to endometriosis!
What are your options if have been diagnosed with Endometriosis?
Standard medical treatment involves symptom management and revolves around the use of:
- painkillers, such as codeine, paracetamol and ibuprofen
- synthetic hormone therapy, which puts women in a state of artificial menopause
- surgery, used to remove adhesions
They are not your only options.
If you would like to address the Endometriosis instead of just managing its symptoms, you could try homeopathic treatment.
Homeopathy is a natural, non-toxic and side-effects free system of medicine which works by bringing your body and its functions back to balance to enable you live a life which is not restricted by pain and discomfort. There are no contraindications for homeopathic treatment and it’s very often used on its own or as an addition to any other therapy or medications you are currently taking.
If you would like to find out how homeopathy could help you address the root of your problems, book in for a free 20 minute, no-obligation chat with our homeopath:
